New details revealed in break-in, animal murder criminal complaint

(ABC 6 News) – The criminal complaint against a woman suspected of breaking into a Rochester home and killing a cat reveals new details.

According to court documents, Kaylee Pearson, the alleged victim of the break-in, entered her apartment at about 10:01 p.m. June 30, saw signs that it had been "ransacked," and immediately exited and called law enforcement.

RELATED: Rochester couple looking for answers after home invaded, cat killed | KAALTV.com

Responding police officers reported that they cleared the apartment, then found the suspect, 36-year-old Angela Spears, on the apartment porch, with Pearson’s deceased cat, Joey.

Spears faces multiple felony charges, some of which include second-degree burglary, possession of burglary or theft tools, fifth-degree drug possession along with a misdemeanor fourth-degree intentional damage to property and a gross misdemeanor charge related to torturing an animal.

In messages to ABC 6 News, Pearson accused Spears of "strangling" her cat. However, the criminal complaint describes no obvious signs of trauma to the cat, which was surrounded by broken shards of pottery — suggesting that he died when pottery was thrown or dropped on him.

Officers also found Spears’ backpack in the apartment, which contained a baggie with drug paraphernalia, a small amount of marijuana, and about 0.6 grams of what the presume was methamphetamine.

Spears previously faced arson charges from a condo fire in June of 2021, as well as property damage charges from allegedly vandalizing vehicles in March of that year.

RELATED: Rochester woman facing arson charges following condo fire | KAALTV.com

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Spears will make her initial appearance in Olmsted County Court July 14. She is currently held on $20,000 bail.