Sacramento-area mutilated animal discoveries rise to 10

SACRAMENTO, March 5 (UPI) -- Authorities in California said chicken and rabbit remains found this week bring the total cases of recent mutilated carcass discoveries to at least 10.

Gina Knepp, head of animal control for the city of Sacramento, said a bag of headless chickens was discovered Wednesday morning, less than 24 hours after the discovery of a headless rabbit and chicken carcasses with their feet cut off and inserted into their chest cavities near some railroad tracks.

Knepp said another bag of decapitated chickens was discovered Monday night, a block away from the rabbit discovery.

Investigators said mutilated animal carcasses have been discovered in at least 10 locations since the first discovery in early January. The discoveries have included the carcasses of chickens, rabbits goats and lambs.

One of the discoveries involved mutilated chicken carcasses with black feathers and blood-soaked $1 bills, Knepp said.

Knepp said there have been several offered explanations for the discoveries, but no solid leads.

"Local cults, religious groups. Nothing solid, you know, but it is very bizarre," Knepp told KXTV.

He added that religious ceremonies could have some protections, but that those involved would have at least illegally dumped the animals' remains.

Dr. Andrew Mendonsa, a clinical psychologist, said the discoveries are concerning.

"The behavior that is being displayed now is concerning because it's often times behavior you see displayed in serial killers, serial rapists," Mendonsa told CBS Sacramento. "It's about power and control, it's about having ultimate control over a victim."