Inside the shed, police investigators found a machete, a homemade electrical prod, crossbow arrows, aluminum bats, and several other weapons. Some contained DNA from a man with family ties to the property. Police identified him as Joshua Tyler Boyer.
Several horrified pet owners soon would learn Boyer was the North County man who’d responded to their Craigslist ads, reportedly eager to adopt the cats they could no longer care for. Young cats like Goose and Silly, whose aging, ailing owner had been moved into a nursing facility.
On Friday in a packed courtroom, the 31-year-old Boyer was sentenced to an eight-year prison sentence, the maximum that Vista Superior Court Judge Robert Kearney could hand down. “It’s one thing to kill. It’s another thing to torture,” the judge said.
“He has engaged in violent conduct that indicates he is a serious danger to society,” Kearney said.
Kearney pointed to “the depravity of the acts that occurred, the sadistic nature that was exhibited by Mr. Boyer,” as well as the time frame, number of acts and number of animals involved.
Boyer’s defense attorney said her client has worked to get psychological help and said Boyer has “expressed sincere remorse.” The attorney, Gretchen von Helms, told the judge that Boyer — who has no prior criminal record — had a “psychotic breakdown” triggered in part by struggles with matters regarding his wife and young daughter and at one point was suicidal.
The prosecutor alluded to drug use by Boyer. Deputy District Attorney Eva Kilamyan had pressed for the maximum sentence, noting the victims were vulnerable small animals with no way out.
“He did the worst things to them for his pleasure,” the prosecutor said.
Authorities have said the case is among the county’s worst animal cruelty investigations in recent memory.
The killings were uncovered in May 2019, and Boyer was charged two months later. His case was initially slowed by delays created by COVID-19 courtroom closures, compounded by further delays.
The pet owners waited years to say their piece in court. On Friday, some did.
“When I saw his name in the news, I dropped to my knees,” said a woman who had given him two cats he said were to go to his grandmother. “He does not get my forgiveness.”
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