Missouri man accused of mutilating, decapitating live cat in Arby's bathroom

Lee's Summit, Mo. — A Missouri man recently fired from his job at Arby’s for allegedly setting fires returned Saturday to the restaurant, where police allege he mutilated and decapitated a cat in the men’s restroom.

Tanner Maggard, 19, of Lee's Summit, is charged with second-degree animal abuse and second-degree property damage, according to online Jackson County court records. The animal abuse charge, which involves abuse by torture and/or mutilation while the animal was alive, is a felony.

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WDAF in Kansas City obtained the court documents, including police reports that allege Maggard went to Arby's on Saturday and placed an order before going into the restroom. When he came out, the records show, he asked the manager, "Oh, I see you remodeled the bathroom, huh?"

Maggard went back into the restroom a short time later and was still in there when the manager went in to clean it. The manager told police he could hear Maggard in a stall, coughing and gagging.

The manager left the restroom, followed by Maggard a short time later. Maggard went outside, the court documents say, according to WDAF.

When the manager returned to finish his cleaning, he found a mutilated and decapitated cat on the diaper changing table in the stall where Maggard had been, the news station reported. Blood covered the walls, door and toilet.

The manager told officers he went outside, where he spotted Maggard sitting in his truck, waiting to see his former boss’ reaction to the scene he had left behind, the court documents allege. Maggard then drove away.

The records show that responding officers who processed the scene in the restroom did not detect the odor of decomposition, which indicated that the cat was recently killed, WDAF reported.

Maggard repeatedly denied knowledge of the cat’s demise when questioned by detectives, the news station said. The restaurant did not have security cameras in place.

The restaurant had to replace the changing table and toilet in the stall and repaint the walls, the documents say.

Online court records show Maggard was booked into the Jackson County Jail with bail set at $10,000. Maggard appeared to have bonded out as of Wednesday, according to jail records.

Maggard is not allowed within 1,000 feet of the Arby's. He is also not allowed to have contact with domesticated animals, the records show.

Cox Media Group