Man arrested for killing cat in oven

WATERTOWN, NY — A 19-year-old Watertown man was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty after he put a woman's cat in an oven and killed it, according to Watertown police.

Police arrested Lilith Marley on August 19. According to Watertown detectives, Marley was involved in a domestic dispute with a woman. They say Marley took the woman's cat, put it in an oven, turned on the heat, and then left the woman's apartment. Police say the cat then died.

Marley was taken into custody and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. New York state law defines this as someone who, without just cause, intentionally kills or causes serious bodily injury to a domestic animal. It is a Class E felony and can result in up to two years in state prison, fines, probation, and a permanent ban on owning animals.