Goat Mutilation Update

Back in January we told you about a  Roanoke teenager charged with mutilating his neighbors' pet goats.

 Psychologists see a strong the link between those who harm animals and then go on to commit more serious crimes.

The teenager accused of mutilated his neighbors goats is 19-year-old Tanner Macy .  Macy's cousin says Tanner has struggled with anger issues his whole life. 

  "I'm actually afraid of him. If you have the capability to kill an animal you have the capability to kill a human being," said Joshua Gowins, Tanner Macy's cousin.    

Macy is accused of breaking into his neighbors' goat pen and stabbing three of his goats.  He faces   three felony counts of torturing or mutilating an animal.

"I'd hate to think he killed those goats but it's definitely in my mind that he did it," said Gowins.    

Gowins says this wasn't the first time Macy harmed those  goats. 

"Back in the day he always wanted to hit the goats and one day he drawled back and hit one of the goats," said Gowins.    

Donovan martin is a licensed mental counselor and says those who harm animals tend to fall under the diagnosis of an anti-social  personality disorder. 

"A person with anti-social personality disorder as an adult is very likely to commit serious crimes, violent acts things like this," said Martin.   

James Holmes the perpetrator of the Aurora, Colorado mass shooting had a history of animal abuse.  Martin says there's not a direct link between the two, but if personality disorders are not treated early the potential for a similar tragedy increases. 

"There is no need to wait till the behaviors are so bad.  The sooner you intervene the better help you are going to receive," said Martin.