Fourth bird mutilation case found in Putnam  

The grisly discovery of decapitated birds along the shoreline of a Southeast reservoir over the weekend has intensified concerns among investigators who believe a string of animal mutilation cases across Putnam County may be connected and possibly tied to ritualistic practices. 

The latest incident unfolded Sunday evening, May 24, near Sodom Reservoir off Old Milltown Road in Southeast, where a fisherman reported finding dead birds scattered near the shore. 

According to the Putnam County SPCA Law Enforcement Division, officers responding to the scene around 6:30 p.m. discovered two decapitated roosters and two decapitated white doves lying near a tree just feet from the reservoir. 

Authorities said the circumstances closely resemble at least three other incidents reported in the Lake Carmel and Kent areas over the past year involving mutilated animals found discarded in bags or dumped near roadways and waterways. 

Investigators have not identified any suspects, but SPCA officials say the repeated similarities suggest the cases may be related. 

In April 2025, Kent police discovered a garbage bag in Lake Carmel containing a mutilated rooster and pigeon that authorities said appeared to have been drained of blood. Investigators also reportedly found objects pierced with pins inside the bag. 

Six months later, in October 2025, authorities responded to Holland Drive in Kent after someone found another plastic bag containing two chickens and a dove. All three birds had been decapitated and allegedly drained of blood. 

At the time, SPCA officials said the killings could be associated with ritualistic practices, possibly involving Santeria or similar traditions, though investigators emphasized they were focused strictly on potential violations of animal cruelty laws — not religion itself. 

Then in March of this year, authorities announced yet another discovery near Route 52 by Lake Carmel. Seven mutilated animals — including chickens, roosters and doves — were found stuffed inside garbage bags and a cardboard box. SPCA Chief Ken Ross said the animals in that case also had been decapitated and appeared to have been drained of blood. 

The repeated discoveries have unsettled residents, many of whom have expressed concerns not only about animal cruelty but also about carcasses being dumped near lakes, reservoirs and public roadways. 

The investigations remain ongoing. 

Anyone with information about the latest incident or similar cases is asked to contact the Putnam County SPCA Law Enforcement Division at 845-520-6915.