Hudson man charged after killing and eating two peacocks

A Hudson man was arrested Sept. 23 after authorities say he killed and ate two of his pet peacocks and sent a letter to a neighbor claiming he did so because she continued to feed the birds. Craig Vogt, 61, was taken into custody on a charge of aggravated animal cruelty, according to a Pasco County complaint and statements from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies said the matter came to their attention when the neighbor found a letter in her mailbox in which Vogt wrote that he had killed and eaten two of his peacocks because she would not stop feeding them. The neighbor told authorities she had previously had a verbal dispute with Vogt about feeding the birds. After receiving the letter, she reported it to law enforcement, and investigators opened the case.

According to the complaint, Vogt told deputies he wrote the letter "to prove a point." He also admitted to killing the two birds by cutting their throats, then cooking them in a frying pan and eating them, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies reported that Vogt told them he plans to kill all of his peacocks upon release from custody to prevent anyone from taking custody of the animals.