{{Short description|Canadian convicted cat killer (born 1997)}} {{Infobox criminal | image = | caption = | birth_name = Aleeta Raugust | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|12|14}} | birth_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = | motive = Ailurophobia, Psychopathy | other_names = | known_for = Torturing and killing domesticated cats | charge = Animal abuse, Property damage | penalty = | victims = Nine domesticated cats. | locations = Calgary, Alberta }}
'''Aleeta Raugust''' (born December 14, 1997) is a Canadian convicted of being a serial killer of cats. In March 2023, Raugust pled guilty in the Alberta Court of Justice to ten criminal charges – nine of which were related to animal abuse – and a single count of threatening property damage. On September 15, 2023, Justice Mike Dinkel sentenced Raugust to 6.5 years in prison, the longest sentence in Canadian history for animal abuse and a lifetime animal prohibition order.<ref>[https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/calgary-serial-cat-killer-sentencing Calgary Herald: Psychopathic serial cat killer given stiffest animal abuse sentence on record]</ref> Raugust admitted to torturing nine cats of which she killed seven. Raugust advised the Calgary Police Service to victimizing other cats, adopted from Kijiji, by throwing them into the river. These attacks occurred in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 2018 to early 2023.
==Prison sentence==
Aleeta Raugust's 6.5 year jail sentence was the longest for animal abuse ever recorded in Canadian history, significantly eclipsing the previous record of three years. In Justice Dinkel's sentencing statement he advised the sentence for the ten counts would have exceeded twelve years; however, he did not want the sentence to be “crushing for a youthful offender.”<ref>[https://globalnews.ca/news/9961198/calgary-woman-who-tortured-and-killed-cats-awaits-sentencing/ Global News: Calgary woman who tortured and killed cats receives 6.5 years, Canada’s largest animal abuse sentence]</ref> The justice noted many aggravating factors in her offences, but noted her cooperation with police, citing Raugust's support of the facts was required to prove the case.<ref>[https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/calgary-woman-who-admitted-to-torturing-killing-cats-sentenced-to-more-than-6-years/ CTV News: Calgary woman who admitted to torturing, killing cats sentenced to more than 6 years]</ref> Justice Dinkel stated “As much as I may find personally the actions of Raugust to be abhorrent and unconscionable, my duty is to focus on the need for denunciation and deterrence, and balance that with the principle of restraint” [...] “Simply put, I must apply the law.”<ref name="MSN">[https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/psychopathic-serial-cat-killer-given-stiffest-animal-abuse-sentence-on-record/ar-AA1gJJln MSN News: Psychopathic serial cat killer given stiffest animal abuse sentence on record]</ref> After handing down his sentence, Dinkel addressed Raugust directly: “Ms. Raugust, the prognosis for you is not great. Feel free to prove them wrong. Good luck.”<ref name="MSN" />
==Mental health==
Raugust underwent a psychiatric assessment and was approved to stand trial by a psychiatrist practicing at the Peter Lougheed Hospital. The assessment was large and described Raugust as psychopathic and suicidal.<ref name="MSN" /><ref>[https://calgarysun.com/opinion/columnists/martin-sobering-words-in-sad-case-of-cat-killing-psychopath Calgary Sun: MARTIN: Sobering words in sad case of cat-killing psychopath]</ref> Justice Dinkel stated “In the end, Raugust was found to be a psychopath and sociopath with bleak hope for rehabilitation” [...] “I also find that Raugust’s moral blameworthiness is very high based on the results of the psychiatric report, which concludes that she is a psychopath with moderate to high likelihood to reoffend.”<ref name="MSN" />
Paragraph 227 of the court decision<ref>[https://caselaw.ncpac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/R.-v.-Raugust.pdf Alberta Court of Justice decision, R v. Raugust]</ref> states:
{{blockquote|227. Turning to ''Lockwood's Checklist for Factors in the Assessment of Dangerousness in Perpetrators of Animal Cruelty'', at page 28 as for where Raugust falls in this assessment, the report notes that she may be at a high risk of violently offending against vulnerable and -- individuals such as children, the elderly, and the disabled. The report makes particular emphasis of her comments with respect to the abortions that I just mentioned. The report notes: (as read) "''Ms. Raugust perpetrated animal violence against victims that are small, harmless, and non-threatening by virtue of species and size, suggesting that Ms. Raugust may gain a sense of power and control through violence against those least likely to retaliate.''"| Justice Dinkel}}
In January 2023, after being admitted to the Peter Lougheed Centre, Raugust advised police and her probation officer that she intended to burn down her former residence on 20th Avenue Southwest in Calgary.
{{blockquote|“I’m getting so angry and I’m starting to fantasize about hurting people when I get angry. And I don’t want to fantasize about that” [...] “I have a plan if I’m released from here and that’s why doctors won’t let me go,” [...] “It’s because all I want to do is go buy a bunch of weed and smoke that, get an extra-large pizza and eat that and then I want to get some kerosene and a box of matches and set my building on fire and be in the room when the boiler explodes.”<ref>[https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/serial-cat-killer-will-undergo-psychiatric-risk-assessment-ahead-of-sentencing-hearing Calgary Herald: ‘I was adopting cats to kill them’: Woman admits to torturing, killing felines]</ref>|Aleeta Raugust}}
After Raugust pled guilty and before sentencing Justice Mike Dinkel ordered Raugust, who was being held at the Calgary Remand Centre, to undergo another psychiatric assessment and risk assessment at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre.<ref>[https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/Service.aspx?serviceAtFacilityID=1025214 Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre]</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Cats|Law|}} * Ailurophobia, excessive fear or hate of cats. * Croydon Cat Killer * Human interaction with cats * Stephen Bouquet, serial cat killer.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://caselaw.ncpac.ca/r-v-raugust-2023-a-j-no-1196/ R v Raugust, 2023, A.J. No. 1196], Alberta Court of Justice decision, dated September 14, 2023.
{{domestic cat}} {{Animal welfare}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raugust, Aleeta}} Category:1997 births Category:2023 in Alberta Category:2023 crimes in Canada Category:21st-century Canadian criminals Category:Canadian female criminals Category:Canadians convicted of cruelty to animals Category:Cat killers Category:Cats in Canada Category:Crime in Alberta Category:History of Calgary Category:Living people Category:People from Calgary Category:People with antisocial personality disorder Category:Prisoners and detainees of Canada Category:Trials in Canada Category:Women in Calgary