(WARNING: This story contains details that some may find disturbing)
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Police in North Adams have made an arrest has been made in connection with this week's brutal rabbit killings there.
According to police, 23-year old Wayne Brackett, Jr., a North Adams resident, was arrested around 3:30 p.m. Friday.
While authorities will not say if he has confessed to the crime, Brackett, Jr. apparently has told them he at least knew of the killings or had previously seen surveillance video broadcast on NEWS10 that showed a man – who police believe is Brackett, Jr. -- brutalizing the rabbits.
According to the Massachusetts SPCA (MSPCA), a search of Brackett, Jr.'s residence revealed evidence the corroborated the charges against him, which include malicious killing of an animal, animal cruelty, and breaking and entering.
In a written statement Sergeant Roy Sutton of the MSPCA's Law Enforcement department said, "In addition to assigning many man hours to the investigation, we have thoroughly reviewed surveillance footage of the crime scene, examined the scene and bodies of the animals, secured a necropsy of one of the rabbits, enlisted the assistance of a state police tracking dog, and carefully interviewed numerous witnesses and the suspect. Following this thorough investigation, the suspect's residence was searched and an arrest was able to be made."
Police were seen carrying a pair of heavy boots and a black backpack with white stripes into the North Adams police station Friday.
In security footage of the rabbit killings, the suspect is seen wearing a similar backpack.
When asked about the boots and backpack North Adams Police Dir. Michael Cozzaglio said, "Yes, it is evidence. It is consistent with the video."
Authorities say the suspect broke into at least 2 local businesses Tuesday night, before breaking into Berkshire County Counstruction on Ashland Street. Surveillance video from Berkshire County Construction shows the man trying to break into several trucks outside the business.
Unsuccessful at entering the trucks, the video then shows the man turning his attention to a spot behind a garage where owner John Duquette's 6-year old daughter housed her 17 pet rabbits.
Police say the suspect set the rabbits free and took his rage out on them, brutally killing at least 5. After the rampage, only 3 rabbits were recovered. The others are believed to have run away or were dragged off by other animals.
This surveillance video captured the suspect flinging the rabbits, bludgeoning one of them and kicking another to death.
The man even left one rabbit hanging from a chain.
On Friday morning, police released even more troubling news that he used a knife on some of the rabbits during this rampage, stabbing one rabbit several times.
Before the rabbit killings, authorities say the suspect busted out windows at a nearby drilling company and tried to break into a trailer at a campground before being chased away.
Authorities told NEWS10 that the security video was vital part in contributing to Brackett, Jr.'s arrest.
Over $9,000 in reward money was put up for information leading to the suspect's capture, including $5,000 from a NEWS10 sponsor, and $1,000 from both The Pittsfield Police Animal Control and Berkshire Humane Society.
The personal support for John Duquette's wife, Tracy, who says she can't bring herself to tell her daughter what happened, has also been a bright spot.
"Strangers calling saying I am so sorry, my granddaughter is the same age," she said. "It's overwhelming."
Brackett. Jr. will be held in the North Adams Police Department over the weekend and will be arraigned Monday.
He has been charged with 5 counts of animal cruelty, 5 counts of malicious killing of an animal, 1 count of breaking and entering at night, and 1 count of malicious destruction of property.
According to the MSPCA's website, violation of the state's animal cruelty laws "may result in a sentence of up to 5 years in state prison, or up to 2.5 years in a county jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500."
Stay with NEWS10 and wten.com for more information.
Image of the suspect -- who police say is Brackett, Jr . -- taken from security footage
Police take in a pair of boots and a backpack, evidence in the killings
NEWS10 ABC
