ROSEVILLE, Mich. -- Roseville police have issued a warrant for a 19-year-old man who is accused of breaking into a home and killing the family's new kitty.
Police said they are looking for Tyshawn Eric Bost.
"Our detectives are on the street and knocking on doors, attempting to locate Bost," said Roseville Police Chief James Berlin. "Unfortunately, we don't know where he lives at this time."
Police said Bost is suspected of forcing his way, possibly w
ith other people, into the Ross family home in the 32000 block of Beaconsfield Road between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Monday.
Police said that before leaving the home with the stolen property, Bost or someone with him took the family's kitty, Ruby, and placed it inside the washing machine and turned it on.
Kimberly Ross said when she walked into her home Monday evening; she heard a strange noise coming from the washer.
"We looked in there, and we could see it was her," said Ross.
Ross said Ruby was a present to herself for her 50th birthday.
"All she ever did was sit in the window and wait for us to come when we weren't home," said Ross.
During the break-in, police said, home invaders ransacked, stole money and a Nintendo system and even took the time to empty out the washing machine full of clothes and put 6-pound Ruby in there, police said.
"This is animal cruelty to the utmost and hopefully we
can catch these people and prosecute them," said Berlin. "The torture this animal must have through when it was cycling through – you just can't comprehend it. It's just disgusting."
The Michigan Humane Society is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to Ruby's killer.
Bost has been charged with one count of second-degree home invasion, one count of killing or torturing an animal. Both are felonies.
Local 4 has learned Bost does have a history of prior home invasions and a juvenile record.
Anyone with information on Bost or the crime should also call Roseville police at 586-775-2100.
