Woman, 19, found guilty of torturing, killing cats and hedgehogs
A 19-year-old woman has been sentenced to TBS, a Dutch court-ordered treatment for offenders with psychiatric disorders, and 391 days in prison for brutally attacking, killing, and mutilating cats and hedgehogs in Hilversum, NOS and NH report. Her case was handled behind closed doors at the Lelystad court because she was a minor during part of the offenses, which took place between July 1, 2024, and January 25, 2025.
Court documents note she had a “great fascination with blood, torture, and death,” and in notebooks found in her possession, some written in blood, she detailed a desire to be a serial killer and described in detail what she wanted to do to humans.
Videos recovered from her phone show her chasing a cat and repeatedly stabbing it with a stick. In court, she said she was excited by the fear she caused, stating, “I found it amazing to see her so scared.” Some animals were decapitated, spiked, skinned, and dissected after death.
The woman also possessed illegal weapons, including a baton, an armband concealing a knife, three brass knuckles, and a stun gun.
Her actions caused significant fear among her family. The court noted that from early 2024, she developed paranoid psychotic symptoms, leaving her parents and younger sister feeling highly unsafe.
The TBS order comes with strict conditions: she may not consume alcohol or drugs, keep animals, or leave the country. She is not required to be admitted to a clinic, but she must undergo treatment. The court highlighted a high risk of recidivism if untreated, stressing that her violent writings and behavior indicate a chance of reoffending.
Authorities noted a similar case in Hilversum last summer, when a 21-year-old woman received TBS and prison for comparable crimes, including the killing and abuse of cats, rabbits, mice, a guinea pig, a crow, and a hedgehog.
