Cat decapitated during break-in of vacant house in Cedar Rapids

Police are investigating after a cat was decapitated, apparently during a burglary to a vacant house in Cedar Rapids.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, a police spokeswoman, said a friend of the owner found the dead cat on the floor of a bedroom Wednesday afternoon at 316 11th St. NW. Graffiti, which appeared to have been done in pen, was on the walls.

Hamblin said the cat had been living inside the house, and the friend had come to check on it. The burglar or burglars got inside by forcing open a front window, police said. No property was reported missing from the house.

Police would not say what was written on the walls.

"It wasn't satanic or a hate crime or anything like that," Hamblin said. "We're not releasing what was written, because only the person who found it and the person who did it probably know what it says. We're hoping to utilize that during the investigation."

Police believe the burglary happened between 8 p.m. Sunday and 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (319) 286-5491.

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