top of page

ALL POSTS

Search

Investigation underway after a defenseless opossum was intentionally set on fire

Updated: May 10

- North Carolina, USA -


~ Update: May, 10, 2025


An arrest has finally been made in connection with the sickening animal cruelty case where an innocent, helpless, and defenseless opossum was INTENTIONALLY set on fire while alive.


On May 8, 2025, authorities arrested 30-year-old CAMERON BERNARD TORRENCE (pictured).


Online records show that TORRENCE is facing charges of instigating cruelty to animals, fleeing and eluding arrest, and probation violation. TORRENCE was released from the Mecklenburg County Jail on the evening of May 9, 2025, after posting a $10,000 bond. His court date was set for August 1, 2025.


According to an affidavit, on April 24, 2025, the revolting video of the opossum being set on fire was posted on Facebook and it showed “individuals dousing an opossum with an accelerant and then lighting the opossum on fire.”


Numerous tips from the public stated that the video originated from a profile named "Hefe Hefe" with Associated Facebook User Number 100089544943313 belonging to TORRENCE.


The affidavit stated that North Carolina Wildlife Officers S. Parker and K. Blankenship went to St. Mark Street in Charlotte to canvass the area and found the burned opossum.


~ Original story:


“To say that we are sick to the stomach is an absolute understatement,” this how a Facebook post by the Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center begins after an innocent and defenseless opossum was intentionally set on fire.


The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the FBI are investigating the incident which took place on April 25, 2025, in Charlotte.


The three evil scum responsible for the vile act filmed the incident and then posted the video on their social media accounts. The sickening video showed them squirt lighter fluid at the helpless opossum before setting him/her on fire.


WCCB reports: “Those three people are not just cruel but also stupid, as it appears they uploaded the video online to their own social media accounts, making it easy to identify them. In fact, on Friday night they were online bragging about it.”


Officials with the Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center say the three individuals could face felony charges.

Morgan Rafael, founder and executive director of the Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center, also said in the Facebook post: “We have seen hateful acts against wildlife, the abuse and cruelty that they suffer every single day but for someone to take a flame torch to an opossum is really beyond imagination. This is as close to evil as someone can get. No animal, human, living creature deserves such hate.”


I have emailed the FBI and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to inquire about the investigation. If I get a response, I will post an update.


I took the liberty of naming the Voiceless Victim Sweetie for the tribute image.


###


Voice For Us Disclaimer: Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.


TORRENCE’s mugshot shared from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office


For more animal cruelty stories, please click here. Thank you!






CONNOR DE'LEON HOWARD arrested after he was caught on video brutally and repeatedly attacking his dog

- North Carolina, USA -


The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested 20-year-old CONNOR DE'LEON HOWARD (pictured).


According to the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, on March 13, 2025, security camera footage at 1114 Clement Avenue captured HOWARD savagely and repeatedly attacking his dog.


Officer Tomasino with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department became aware of the incident after the outrageous video circulated on social media so he began investigating the case. Authorities were provided video of the incident by someone who lived nearby.


The footage showed HOWARD pulling into a Plaza Midwood apartment complex, getting out of a gray Toyota Corolla, opening a back door, bending over inside and ferociously swatting at something with one of his shoes. Soon after, HOWARD pulled a dog out from the backseat, pinned him/her to the ground and knee struck the pup multiple times before throwing him/her back into the car.


While the defenseless dog was being attacked, he/she was “whimpering and yelping”, stated the affidavit.


At that point, a witness stepped in and began yelling at HOWARD to stop hitting the dog. To that, HOWARD responded: “I don't give fuck about none of that.” The witness went on to say: “You cannot be hitting your dog in the head.” HOWARD then told the witness: “In the head, the stomach, don't give fuck where its at or how do it.”


The video then ends there.


People started identifying HOWARD as the individual seen in the video.


The owner of an animal rescue had posted the video of the incident on her Instagram account trying to get information on HOWARD. When she was reading the comments, she came across a comment posted by “driftininndiesel” and according to the affidavit, it read:


“My life fixin to be judge by 30 second video. My dog live great life. Am saying what did was right no. but do deserve jail time and my kids losing their dad no. Im (sic) 20. My dog, BLUE EYE (Bull dog) lives great life. don’t any one of yall people form (sic) can of paint but yall wasn’t there to witness. How much more of that video wasn’t posted yall don’t know and probably never will. Ill face what Ill face and lifes (sic) goes on. But don’t limit my anger to dog nor woman. But hey all this is, is comment out thousands. So we’ll see.”


The lady then reached out to Animal Control and the agency was able to positively identify the individual as CONNOR DE'LEON HOWARD. The affidavit stated that through investigative work, an address of 6106 Montego Drive was associated with HOWARD through a previous arrest.


Officers went to that address to make contact with HOWARD but there was no answer at the door although they could hear a dog barking from inside. When officers looked through the window, they saw a brown/white Bulldog Mix with blue eyes in a cage.


HOWARD was taken into custody on March 18, 2025, and charged with one felony count of cruelty to animals. He was booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail and released after posting a $5,000 secure bond.

Court records show that HOWARD is expected back in court on April 4, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.


The furvictim is in the care of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control (ACC) and has been checked by a veterinarian.


On a separate note, arrest records also indicate that HOWARD is being charged with a probation violation and that he also had two other arrests last year.

Court records indicate the previous arrests were for separate charges of assault on a female.


###


Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the PC Affidavit obtained by Voice For Us. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.


HOWARD’s mugshot shared from the Mecklenburg County Jail




EARL ANTRON HAMILTON, accused of forcing dogs to fight until they died, pleads guilty to dogfighting

- North Carolina, USA -


On Monday, October 23, 2023, 43-years-old EARL ANTRON HAMILTON (pictured), accused of forcing dogs to fight until they died, presented an Alford guilty plea for those criminal charges.


HAMILTON pleaded guilty to:

Twelve felony counts of animal cruelty.

Twelve misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

Five felony counts of dogfighting.

Three misdemeanor counts of cruel restrain.


The charges refer to HAMILTON’s involvement in a despicable dogfighting case that dates back to 2021.


According to the incident report obtained by Voice For Us, on the afternoon of October 24, 2021, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department received a request for assistance from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control at a property in the 4300 block of Leopold Place, Buckleigh Neighborhood.


Animal Control was responding to the residence about an injured dog and since HAMILTON was known to be aggressive and had a “Domestic Violence protection order against him”, the agency requested help from the police.


Police determined there was justification to obtain a search warrant which then led to a total of twenty-nine (29) dogs being removed from the property.

Sadly, two of the dogs died due to medical issues and one was euthanized due to health complications.


The twenty-six (26) surviving dogs are currently in the care of CMPD Animal Care & Control getting medical and day-today care. Officials with animal control will make decisions on whether they can be placed for adoption or if they have to be euthanized.

A court date for HAMILTON has not been set.

HAMILTON is not allowed to own or have possession of any dogs for only five years; however, his wife is allowed to keep her two miniature Schnauzers.


On a separate note, WCNC reports, “A 2014 report from NBC affiliate WRAL shows Hamilton has previously made headlines in other parts of North Carolina for animal abuse charges. The report noted at least two other instances of animal cruelty accusations, in 2010 and in 2014.”


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



HAMILTON’s mugshot shared from the Mecklenburg County Jail.


Additional Source:





Subscribe Form

© 2025 Voice For Us

Privacy Policy

FAQ

bottom of page