Oct. 28. Cornelius Police have arrested Aimee Cook, 41, on 14 counts of animal cruelty. According to a police press release, she “confessed to killing the animals and stated she was overwhelmed by the felines due to recent unplanned litters.” A resident of One Norman Square Apartments, she apparently put the dead animals in a suitcase and placed it near a large trash container. “When officers arrived, they spoke to an employee who advised he located a small suitcase near the dumpster.  Upon disposal of the suitcase, the employee discovered 14 deceased felines. The employee was able to identify the suspect based on recognition of the suitcase outside the suspect’s apartment and one of the deceased felines,” the police press release said.

Cook, a former employee of Cornelius Today, was located and questioned about the deceased felines. She confessed to killing the animals, according to police, and stated she attempted to relocate the felines to no-kill shelters but was unsuccessful and euthanized them. Police say, however, that the Cornelius Animal Shelter was not contacted.

She was arrested Oct. 27. Her employment was terminated earlier in October.