Animal rights advocates calling for justice as Winnipeg man accused of killing 3 cats in 2024 pleads guilty

A man accused of killing three cats pleaded guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary harm to an animal inside a Winnipeg courtroom on Wednesday.

Randy Jensen admitted to killing the cats by choking them in December of 2024.

A video played in court on Wednesday was of Jensen’s interrogation on January 10, 2025. It showed a conversation between Jensen and WPS detectives Kenneth Penner and Jean Paul.

At the beginning of the conversation, Jensen said he acquired cats on December 27, and they ran off after two nights at his residence.

Detectives said the information collected during the investigation varied from what Jensen had laid out.

Jensen then proceeded to tell detectives that the two animals did not even spend a day at this residence.

Randy Jensen was charged with three counts of killing or injuring an animal after three cats were found dead under the Summit Road Bridge, near Centreport Canada Way, on Dec. 8, Dec. 28, and Dec. 30. 2024.

“We are very disturbed by that, and we want justice,” said Christy Ratcliff, an advocate.

The court heard on Wednesday that Jensen lured two of the cats with treats and got one on a social media platform.

The cats were found with their paws bound with duct tape; one of the cats had an extension cord wrapped around its neck.

When Jensen was asked by detectives why the two versions of the event differ, Jensen said that it had to do with his depression and anxiety that he experienced since the passing of his father.

Jensen also said he used cocaine at the time of the alleged killings on and off, since high school, and was seeking help.

“It means a lot that people came. I live an hour and a half away, and I made sure I came,” said Kristy Zamonsky, an organizer of Project Artemis.

A small crowd of protesters gathered outside the courthouse, calling for stricter laws and more regulations when it comes to the protection of domestic animals.

“People need to stop re-homing their animals. They need to do it through rescues. We need an animal registry. The rehoming sites need to be shut down,” said Zamonsky.

Ratcliff added, “Hopefully we’ll get some jail time. That’s what we are hoping for.”

The crown suggests a probation order, and that Jensen would not have custody of any animal, will not be unsupervised around any domestic animals, and will not be in a motor vehicle with an animal.