$3,000 reward offered for information in connection to tortured turtle found in Suffolk County park
There is a $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case of a turtle that the Suffolk SPCA says was found submerged in water with a hook in its mouth in a cage that was zip-tied closed.
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It was around 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 23 when Babylon Park rangers, responding to Geiger Park for a complaint of kids on e-bikes, discovered a turtle in a cage submerged in the water, said Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross.
“They pulled it out and they see that it’s zip-tied closed, the cage is zip-tied closed, and there’s a hook in its mouth tethered to the cage. So whoever did this, this was obviously somebody that wanted to kill it and torture it that way, by submerging it in water," said Gross.
Chief Gross said the turtle was still alive at the time, but died not long after it was discovered.
Gross said the turtle was a yellow-bellied slider turtle believed to be about 12 years old and a male. He said it had likely been someone's pet and was abandoned at the park.
There is a $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call the Suffolk SPCA at 631-382-SPCA.
Chief Gross had a message for the person who abandoned the turtle in the park.
"You didn't need to do that. That's criminal. If they would've called the Suffolk County SPCA we would've recommended a rescue or try to work with them to get placement for it," he said.
