Two ferrets have been viciously murdered in Brookline, Mass.  We are trying
to find out as much as possible about the case and what people can do to
help.  One ferret was supposed to be a recently adopted baby.  As far as
we know, the accused murderer is in Bridgewater State Hospital under
observation for 30 days and the case will go to Superior Court after that.
Right now the accused, James Arthur Melton, is being charged with breaking
and entering, larceny over $250, telephone fraud, animal cruelty, attempted
arson.
 
Below are excerpts from the Brookline TAB ("Man held for killing ferrets"
by Jim Walker, TAB staff writer).  Be warned that the details are gruesome.
 
From the TAB:
"... a Cambridge man is behind bars for a list of charges including the
alleged violent murders of two ferrets. ... James Arthur Melton, 27, is
accused of breaking into a first-floor apartment at ------ ...on Wednesday,
Sept. 16, and while in the apartment, killing one ferret with blunt force
and burning the other in an oven. ...
 
"According to Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Grace Lee, Melton
has a long history of brushes with the law for drug-related crimes, domestic
abuse and breakings and enterings ...
 
"The state also slapped on the heftier charge of attempted arson, which
could carry a sentence of five years to life in prison..... Lee sought to
keep Melton incarcerated without bail, claiming he is as a threat to
society."
[Lee has moved to another office and will not be prosecuting the case.]
 
 
"Melton's defense team, attorneys Joseph and Paula Killion, took exception
to the attempted arson charge, saying it had been created by the assistant
district attorney ..."
 
We'll keep updating the fml as we find out more information.
 
Ronnie DiComo
Please send email to both <[log in to unmask]> and <[log in to unmask]> as
ccmail is not reliable on a regular basis; thanks.
[Posted in FML issue 2454]