The Mosta cat killer – who struck again yesterday after hanging two crucified felines from a tree – should have been apprehended long ago, forensic psychologist Roberta Holland believes.
“The most surprising thing about this series of crimes is that the person responsible hasn’t yet been caught. The perpetrator is probably just as surprised by this,” Dr Holland told Times of Malta.
Police yesterday found the tenth pair of crucified animal carcasses in a series of gruesome killings dating back to 2011.
Two cats were found nailed to wooden crosses and hanging from a tree near the former Flower Power Garden Centre early in the morning.
Police sources confirmed the cats had not been frozen as in previous incidents and no note had been left.
The discovery was the furthest away from the original crime scene in Main Street and initially seemed to steer clear of the perpetrator’s previous pattern of linking the gruesome killings to a religious site.
Mosta mayor Shirley Farrugia, however, said the garden centre crime scene did have religious significance, as the area previously served as a Catholic cemetery during the bubonic plague in the 18th century.
Dr Farrugia said although it was no longer used, the cemetery was well known among Mosta locals, further supporting claims that the killer was a Mosta resident.
“Only Mostin know about this place. If the culprit knew about the significance of this place then he is most likely from the area,” she said.
Dr Holland supported the mayor’s claims adding that the increased distance from the original crime scene in central Mosta indicated that the perpetrator was gaining in confidence.
“These crimes tend to start close to where the person lived or to the source of their anguish. They then naturally venture further away as they gain in confidence,” she said.
Police are doing everything within their power to catch whoever is behind these awful crimes
Asked about the significance of the absence of a note, Dr Holland said the cat killer had “said all there was to be said”.
Dr Farrugia said residents were angered by the series of incidents and frustrated by the police’s failure to apprehend the person responsible.
“Mosta locals have definitely had enough but I am assuring everyone that the police are doing everything within their power to catch whoever is behind these awful crimes,” she said.
Mosta is home to more than 13 chapels and dozens of religious monuments and niches. Dr Holland, however, maintains that the constant nature of the crimes and the relatively manageable distance between crimes scenes should have resulted in the perpetrator being identified months ago.
“We’re not talking about New York here. This is Mosta! Whoever is responsible must have been seen or caught on camera,” she said.
Last month the Malta Cat Club offered a reward for the information related the case. Donations to the reward fund can be made via Paypal at administration@maltacatclub.com or Iban No: MT04MMEB44495000000049031883050.