By Katie Nelson
San Jose Mercury News
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The man arrested Oct. 8 after a cat was found dead inside his car is the son of a retired San Jose police captain, authorities confirmed Friday.
San Jose resident Robert Farmer, 24, was arrested Thursday morning near Hillsdale and Leigh avenues after officers found him sleeping in his car and a cat’s carcass within arm’s reach, police said. Farmer is the son of retired San Jose police Capt. Jack Farmer.
Investigators could not immediately say whether Farmer was responsible for other cases of missing or dead cats in the city that have been reported over the past few weeks.
Police say the animal theft that led to Farmer’s arrest was reported about 9:40 p.m. Sept. 21 at a home in the 1600 block of Hyacinth Lane. A home-surveillance camera recorded a man luring then grabbing GoGo, an orange tabby, and running away.
Several people contacted police with information about the theft, and detectives from the department’s assaults unit eventually identified Farmer as a suspect.
After Farmer was detained, officers searched his car and found a dead cat hidden inside. While Farmer is associated with GoGo’s disappearance, police have said they have not officially confirmed the identity of the dead cat or its owner.
Anyone with information about the case can contact the SJPD assaults unit at 408-277-4161 or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP (7867) or withsvcrimestoppers.org.
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