Seal Pup’s Angel of Death To Stand Trial
Image Credit: cbs8.com
A homeless man in San Diego will stand trial November 10 on a felony charge of cruelty to an endangered or protected animal.
Roy Lee Miller, 45, faces up to five years in state prison if convicted.
But why would someone bludgeon a seal pup to death?
Miseducation.
Miller and witness Mark Valentine were drinking vodka near Spanish Landing last Feb. 27 when they saw and heard a Northern elephant seal making “ungodly” sounds, worse than a baby screaming.
Valentine claimed he thought there was something wrong with the seal, saying that perhaps it might have swallowed a hook. He also said Miller told him that the seal “needs to be put out of its misery.”
Valentine then walked away and Miller took things into his own hands, literally, and hit the seal with a rock until the screams stopped.
Miller actually approached the detective who found the seal’s body on the beach. “He said he was responsible for putting the seal out of its misery,” Detective Robert Twardy testified.
Valentine also confirmed that Miller cried the next day when he talked about what occurred.
So should Miller go to prison?
Kerri Danil, a research biologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the seal pup – thought to be about a month old – had multiple skull fractures.
In addition, a marine mammal veterinarian testified that the seal pup was fine and making normal seal “calls” when she observed the animal that same day. She also admitted that a bystander could think a seal is in distress if they heard the “unique” pup calls.
People on both sides of the issue have valid points:
Deputy District Attorney Karra Reedy told Judge Eugenia Eyherabide that the seal was tortured and that Miller committed a “malicious and willful act” but Deputy Public Defender Jo E. Super disagreed, claiming there was no malice.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain – this tale is heartbreaking.
