Joseph Petcka: Cat Killer Claims Self-Defense (Photos)
Joseph Petcka, a brawny, blue-eyed actor and former Mets minor league relief pitcher, is on trial for brutally bludgeoning ex-girlfriend Lisa Altobelli’s cat to death.
Norman, an orange tabby named after the character “Norm” on the television show Cheers, was just a “mean, nasty cat” according to Petcka, who claims he killed the cat in self-defense.
“The cat had always hissed and growled at me as I was being nice to him,” Petcka told ASPCA cops when he was arrested in April 2007. “I don’t know why he attacked me, as I always wanted to keep my distance from him.”
Petcka believes he was justified in kicking the cat after Norman bit him on the hand.
State law allows committing an act of violence against an animal – if the animal has it coming.
Altobelli, a reporter for Sports Illustrated and the cat’s bereaved owner, tells a much different story than Petcka’s self-defense tale.
On the witness stand, Altobelli told jurors Petcka was fixated on Norman for some reason, even writing in his diary that he “made progress with Norman, and that someday he thought he’d let him pet him.”
Petcka was drunk and getting drunker on the night of March 27, 2007, in her Greenwich Street apartment, according to Altobelli. She went to bed to avoid him and fell asleep hearing him calling “Norman . . . Norman!” in a singsong voice, she told cops.
She woke up to find Petcka jamming his knee into her back and screaming, “Your cat bit me! What are you going to do about it?” and “You love that cat more than you love me!” He then threatened to put the cat in the microwave and nuke him.
Altobelli told jurors she fled the apartment hoping Petcka would cool down. When she returned the next morning, she knew something was terribly wrong when Norman didn’t come running to the door. The cat’s food, fur and feces were everywhere, she said.
She found Norman’s body in his “special spot” under her bedroom nightstand where he hid when scared.
“He was dead,” she sobbed. “I put my hand there and he was just cold and stiff. I pulled him out.” Then she stopped, unable to continue.
View photos of Joseph Petcka’s wounds, Norman the cat and Lisa Altobellie below.
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Filed under: Across the Nation
I am not really a cat lover, but I am a animal lover
From what I can see from the photos it does not look like a cat attack. I hope he’s never able to get another acting job and he rotts in hxxx.
Take the guy out and beat him the same way “in self defense.”
Cat’s don’t go attack people if they have someplace they can hide. Domestic cats don’t get agressive unless they are defending themselves or cornered.
I say shoot the guy and get it over with. Do the world a favour.
That man has done what few other men could. My hats off to him…
What a absolute monster! I hope you rot, cat killer!
I am a cat lover and those are not cat attack wounds. And shame on Lisa Altobelli for leaving her cat alone with him after he had threatened the cat. I hope he is found guilty and gets a tough sentence.
I feel so bad for Lisa.
Anyone who could beat a cat to death should be in jail.
What an asshole.
It isn’t her fault, who is going to suspect someone they care for would murder their pet?
I am glad I don’t know this guy because I literally get so angry about people hurting cats I could hurt him.
He should have just wrapped a plastic bag around the cats head and put a rubber band around it’s neck.
Those who claim that cats don’t attack people are naive, I have been attacked several times by cat’s, getting scratched up pretty bad or bitten, and the owner’s just sit back laughing saying stupidly, “Oh look it likes you” or “he is just playing with you, ohhhh.”
I think all cats should be killed and eaten immediately to fight world hunger.
PS Dogs too
If you can do that to a helpless cat what stops him from doing it to a child or woman. Rikers Island with a cat loving cellmate should fix this problem. He’ll be doing what many men fear they’d be force to do. The least of his worries would be taking off his hat!
all i have to say is if i ever meet this SOB IM GONNA DO WHAT HE DID TO THE CAT AND THEN SOME THEN ILL REPEAT IT SOB BETTER NOT CROSS MY PATH AND MAYBE GET MY CATS TO PEE ON HIM
ANIMAL LOVER
I have no sympathy for him. He’s a grown man (or is supposed to be)! Doesn’t he realize how stupid it sounds to say that a cat attacked him so he killed him to defend himself? He has a very serious anger issue and to take it out on a defenseless animal shows just how “ill” he is. I’ve been around cats all of my life, love cats, and also have been “attacked” by cats, by since I am bigger than them have been able to control the situation better than this idiot did. A domestic cat just doesn’t attack for no reason. There has to be fear involved. He undoubtedly had abused Norm before to make him scared of him. I say hang this idiot!
OMG. That is brutal and horrible and it’s just an atrocity that cat is not entitled to justice. It probably bit him in self-defense when he was kicking it to death, not the other way around. He’s EVIL.
Actually Lisa is good to get away from him now. He’ll probably kill a person someday. It does tend to escalate and if he really did have some fixation on the cat, then he’s certi-frickin-fiable. Serial killers usually start with pets.
I hope he dies. I had an EX husband who uttered the exact same words. I took the cat and fled the house and eventually divorced him. I realized he had serious problems – found out he’d been doing drugs…bad ones. Made him a monster.
Guys who can’t “handle sharing” a woman’s affections with a pet are insecure and immature. This “man” should never be allowed to have children – he’d probably eat them.
Stupid ass – of course pets get attention…they are completely dependant on you to take care of them. And if I could pick my husband up and he would purr and lick my face, I’d do it. But he won’t let me and my cat does. lol.
I curse the day this asswipe was born. I hope he never works in this town again.
cat hater has a small pee pee. animals sense evil.
The reason I’m not a lawyer because if a filthy human being like that walked into my office and told me to represent him, I would throw a chair at him and say “GET THE HELL OUT OF MY OFFICE BEFORE I DO TO YOU WHAT YOU DID TO THE CAT!!” I wonder how the lawyer who represents him can sleep at night. He deserves to rot in jail along with the cat killer.
Firstly, this pathetic example of a human being should be strapped to a post and beaten senseless, then left there for a day or two and beaten again. Joseph Petcka is nothing more than a WORM!!! You’re lucky you aren’t in Australia because I personally would feed you to the crocodiles. Secondly, for Andrea Peyser to say that the cat had it coming? You low life scum bag!!! How dare you!!! I’d make you the crocodiles desert & I would stick around to cheer the crocodile on with every painful, blood curdling scream you made!!! May you both lead a sad & sorry life from this day forward in extreme torment.
This is not a man, but a monster. I hope his cellmates enjoy sharing time with him in prison.
Anyone can see those are defensive wounds; the cat made those in self-defense, probably when he was fighting for his life in vain against this piece of trash. Locking him up is too good for him.
As for you, Bryan, and you, Cathater: what sewers did you crawl out of? What makes creatures like you such repulsive, vile vermin? Were you born defective, or did someone take all the humanity out of you as children (assuming you really have anything human in you at all). Cats, and dogs, deserve our love, respect, shelter, and protection. I’ve had pets all my life: believe me, though I’ve spent a small fortune on toys, vet bills, food, and supplies, its’s not half enough for all they’ve given me!
Its forunate this clown got nailed before he beat a girlfriends baby or toddler to death. Hopefully this won’t happen now that he;s been exposed as a psycho.
Also, Peyser’s misguided perception of this dorkwad as “attractive,”, a “hunk”, and a “catch”, are pathetic ploys for attention. I got news for you Peyser, Ted Bundy wasn’t bad looking and he was responsible for at least 10 deaths.
Not only is Petcka a linically self-centered, insecure and abusive, he’s a whining slimeball for trying to wriggle out of accountability by blaming the vicitm of his violent rage.
His apologist Peyser comes across as an ignorant loser who thinks the “hunk” Petcka might sleep with her if she comes out publically in his defense.
If there is justice in this case, the court will throw the book at this abusive boy-man.
I hope this stands as a lesson to all who have brought an animal into their lives and homes: you are responsible for that basically defenseless animal’s well-being and safety.
Never ever leave an animal with someone who has shown a pattern of abusive behavior.
Petcka was physically abusine to Altobelli — if she had to stay with him for some reason, how in the hell could she have walked off and left that little cat with a 6′ 3″ idiotic, infantlie, drunken brute who obviously had a neurotic resentment of him??!!
This is A HUGE waste of MY taxpayer $ for a stupid cat.
You people all need a check up from the neck up.
Let’s get back to the real problems of the world. If I were that judge I would have fined Altobelli for bringing such a stupid lawsuit. I hate cats and especially unfriendly ones and strays…..kick em all the time.
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Manni Cotti your a “Freak Show”. It has been proven that anyone who would harm an animal would harm a human. Proven Fact! What a loser. You probably shouldn’t admit you have such a small penis.
Steve, and your a pussy.
Brave on the internet aren’t you?
Nice comeback….what are you in 5th grade?
It is a huge waste of time & $ for a stupid cat.
Typical Americans ……have a 30 minute time span of attention. The world is ending and we are talking about this? BTW strays have it coming…..if owners were not so selfish and let them use the world as their personal playground then the problem would not exist. I have 0 sympathy for them. Too bad.
Good! The jury is deadlocked. See most people have some intelligence in this world. They are realizing the absurdity of it all. If I were the judge I would give Altobelli 3 days just for being a pain in the ass and fine her ALL court costs.
Meanwhile there are real crime trials held up because of this crap.
Manni Cotti = sociopath
you have no compassion or empathy. maybe some of the real problems of the world wouldn’t be here if there were less uncompassionate people like you around. i hope you die and when you get to hell you are tied up and surrounded by a million cats biting and scratching you.
Animal cruelty is a real crime. Animal abusers frequently go on to abuse and even kill people. If more animal abuse cases made it to court, fewer murder cases would, because murderers would be stopped before they ever got started in the first place. This is not my opinion. This is supported by sound, solid research. The Humane Society has a great program called “First Strike” aimed at educating the public on this issue.
Manni Cotti, I feel sorry for you. Clearly, somebody brutalized you as a child, either emotionally, physically, or both. Taking pride in hurting animals is a sign of mental sickness. You really should get some help for your anger issues before you wind up in court, yourself. If someone sees you kicking strays as you claim that you do, they will have you arrested, as you should be.
Cats do not attack “for no reason”. I have been around cats literally all of my life, and I have never once been attacked by a cat out of the blue. The main reasons cats become aggressive are:
1.) Fear. A cat who feels cornered will lash out in self defense. Humans are enormous in comparison to cats. It’s not hard to see how they would be intimidated by somebody invading their space, regardless of the human’s intent. Most adult cats take a long time to get to know a human they’ve just been introduced to. They are cautious by nature, and clearly with good reason.
2.) Territory. Cats are territorial animals, just like dogs and people. A cat who feels its territory has been invaded may try to defend it. They do not immediately launch into an attack over this. They must be provoked into it.
3.) Overstimulation. Even spayed and neutered cats can become overstimulated by excessive petting. It triggers an aggressive sexual response. Anyone who has ever seen cats mating knows that it is a fairly violent process with lots of biting. Learn to recognize the signs in your cat that it is getting overstimulated, and you will never be bitten. Different cats have different tolerances.
4.) Improper socialization. If a cat has not learned by the age of 10 weeks what are appropriate levels of clawing and biting in play, it is much more difficult to teach it as an adult. This is why it is not recommended to take a cat away from its mother and litter mates before that age. They learn to control their teeth and claws from each other best.
Norman was declawed. Clawing was not an issue. Norman avoided Petcka whenever possible. Norman did not seek this man out to play with him and get too rough. Norman was neutered and did not allow this man to pet him at all. Sexual aggression was not the issue.
Petcka is a violent individual who slammed a metal door on a former girlfriend’s hand deliberately, severing part of her finger. Violent individuals carry themselves with hostility and aggression. This cat was afraid for its life, pure and simple. Sadly, Altobelli ignored the warning signs until it was too late. Few people would believe that someone they care about could harm or kill their pets. Sadly, with abusive individuals, it is an all too common occurrence.
85% of battered women have reported violence against animals in their household. Abusers use household pets as manipulation tools. They threaten the animals’ safety to ensure compliance. They harm the animals to intimidate other household members. They kill them as punishment and further threat. Often, a pet is the only comfort an abused woman or child has in an oppressive and terrifying environment.
Many battered women report staying in an abusive relationship because the shelters won’t accept pets. Many have been killed because they refused to leave their animals behind. As a result of this, more shelters are changing their policies or teaming up with animal welfare groups to provide safe foster environments for pets coming out of abusive households.
Only educating the public and treating these cases with the serious attention they deserve will help to break the cycle of violence. I would much rather see animal cruelty cases coming through the courts, preferably when the offenders are still young enough to be rehabilitated, than cases of child abuse, spouse abuse, and murder. Anyone who thinks this is a waste of taxpayer money clearly does not understand the whole issue.
This guy better hope he never runs into me. Piece of human TRASH.
Stupid jury open and shut case, toss this waste into the trash.
Peyser has written another column on her fixation, Petcka the feline slayer, along with a pic of him with two grey longhaired cats on his chest.
This is becoming surreal. SHe apparently had a conversation with him but thus far hasn’t managed to lure him with her charms, even stating he has a “new attractive girlfriend” who has a dog.
Uh oh, I smell trouble!
The cat probably bit him for a reason- he knew better than the ex-gf knew. Even if I believe his horse-manure story of self defense, he left that cat there to die a slow death. ON PURPOSE. He says it was self defense, yet in the interview with Matt Lauer, his lawyer states they were NOT trying to say it was self defense. Make up your minds! It’s ok, karma will get him in the end.
Kristy, excellent comment, thank you! Everything you have said has been well documented and law enforcement around the nation are starting to take animal cruelty more seriously for just those reasons you have described.
Animal cruelty indicates a severe emotional instability. Run far away from anyone who likes to hurt animals — it’s only a matter of time before they take that attitude out on you!!
human race is a mess,god gave us everything and we are ruining it all,what a shame,we are destroying the ecology,we have no respect and love for little brothers(animals),we only care about money and sex,but the end is near,an era of illumination and conscience is arriving,there is only a 30 percent of evil left,and the good will survive,i am sure of that….
Kristy, Are u married, I would like to court you.
Kristy said it all. One point is the fact that alcohol played a part in the murder of the cat. He has a problem with alcohol and also may have been abused by a member of the family who was a drinker also. this does not excuse the behavior but may lead to helping to cure the person with a long term visitation with alcohol abuse program and never drinking again. Also he needs to serve at least one year with a cat shelter cleaning the cages and taking care of animals..
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Bryan, on September 18th, 2008 at 1:28 pm Said:
That man has done what few other men could. My hats off to him…
ROBIN: I find you disgusting as a human being, if you can be called that, and I know you’ll reap the feelings you sow.