A Canadian woman has been accused of horrifically torturing and killing kittens for fetish videos, which she and her boyfriend allegedly sold on the dark web. Irene Lima, 55, and Chad Kabecz, 40, both from Manitoba, were arrested after local veterinarians alerted authorities to videos depicting animal torture. Winnipeg police stated they seized multiple devices containing hundreds of videos and photographs, along with tens of thousands of encrypted communications between the couple. More than 75 animals were reportedly filmed being subjected to torture and death between mid-May and early October this year, some of which featured disturbing sexual components.
Crown attorney Sean Sass claimed the duo operated the dark web site called ‘Goddess May Barefoot Premium Crush’ where Lima would crush defenseless animals using her bare feet. Sass reported to provincial court Judge David Ireland, "These are not quick kills. Some of these videos, as the time-stamps indicate, are staged, premeditated torturing resulting in the death of very vulnerable animals."
After the extensive investigation, it was revealed Lima and Kabecz were also involved with possessing child pornography and had expressed intent to harm children, prompting their re-arrest for more serious charges on November 26. Each now faces multiple counts, including four for bestiality and six for causing unnecessary suffering to animals, alongside the pornography charges.
Compounding the horror of this case, criminal investigators described Kabecz as having created "an exclusive underground black-market network" for animal torture. Police reported prospective members had to submit videos of themselves hurting animals to gain entry. A court hearing revealed authorities seized various items from their home, including a cat carrier and Lima’s diary, which provided insights to investigators about her motivations and actions.
During this hearing, Lima was denied bail, with her lawyer expressing disappointment about the outcome, anticipating the case would go to trial. The dilemma began unraveling after authorities received tips on the couple’s illicit activities from a Reddit user, who communicated with someone believed to be Kabecz. They tracked detailed instructions on where to find the gruesome videos, leading to screenshots provided to law enforcement. According to the reports, the homepage of the couple’s website notoriously depicted grotesque imagery of bare feet atop animals, indicating the disturbing content available for their subscribers.
Meanwhile, across North America, another incident highlighted the lengths individuals go to protect their pets. A woman named Marissa was assaulted after defending her cat from being hurt by Samuel Henry Collins II, 24, inside their apartment in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. According to the Lock Haven City Police, Collins shoved the cat, prompting Marissa to intervene. The altercation escalated as he punched her multiple times, throwing her to the floor hard enough to injure her head.
Officer Heath Bumbarger reported, “The victim pushed the door open and punched him (Collins) in the face,” signals of desperation showing the instinctive nature of protecting her pet. When authorities arrived, they noted the woman had visible injuries, including lacerations on her eyebrow, and expressed fears for herself and her infant child due to Collins' violent actions.
Collins is now facing charges of simple assault and harassment, freed on $10,000 unsecured bail as the case awaits its legal proceedings. Both incidents shine a light on not only the distressing attitude some individuals hold toward animals but also the violence aimed at those who dare to protect them. The common thread of animal cruelty leads to greater societal discussions on the treatment of not just animals, but the potential ramifications of intervention, as seen with Marissa’s confrontation with Collins.
Such violent episodes are alarming, reflecting wider issues of societal safety, animal rights, and protective actions individuals take. From dark web exchanges involving grotesque content to personal safety risks when standing up against threats to animals, these cases demand attention and action from the communities they affect.
