LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) — Authorities are offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person torturing and killing cats in a Lawrence neighborhood.

MSPCA law enforcement officials on Thursday announced the reward after learning that a ninth cat was found dead. A necropsy revealed the cat found last week had a fractured skull, spine and detached tail, as if it had been swung by the tail against a hard surface.

A cat found dead in November died of a hematoma and a fractured skull.

Police Chief John Romero tells The Eagle-Tribune ( ) he’s concerned because people who are abusive to animals often progress to crimes against humans.

Whoever is killing the cats is subject to felony animal cruelty charges.

