Facebook and MySpace Postings Gave Cat Killer Away, Police Say

As New Times über-blogger Kyle Munzenrieder pointed out yesterday, the fact that accused cat killer Tyler Weinman joined the "Catch the Cat Killer!" group on Facebook suggests he was certainly aware of all the media hoopla over his alleged crimes -- and perhaps enjoying it.Today, unidentified police officials told the Miami...

By Tim Elfrink

June 15, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

As New Times über-blogger Kyle Munzenrieder pointed out yesterday, the fact that accused cat killer Tyler Weinman joined the "Catch the Cat Killer!" group on Facebook suggests he was certainly aware of all the media hoopla over his alleged crimes -- and perhaps enjoying it.

Today, unidentified police officials told the Miami Herald that, in fact, Weinman's social networking actually led directly to his arrest.

Officials wouldn't say exactly what Weinman wrote on Facebook or his two MySpace pages that raised a red flag.

Police were already on the lookout for a teen matching Weinman's description who split time between homes in Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay, as Weinman did with his divorced parents. But something the 18-year-old former Miami Palmetto Senior High student wrote online a few weeks ago led cops to watch him more closely.

On Sunday, two plainclothes officers arrested him at a friend's party.

He's charged with 19 counts of animal cruelty, 19 counts of improperly disposing of animal bodies, and four counts of burglary.

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Tim Elfrink is a former investigative reporter and managing editor for Miami New Times. He has won the George Polk Award and was a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting.

Contact: Tim Elfrink

Follow:

Twitter: @timelfrinkmia