Three Charged In Deaths Of Zoo Birds

LACEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Three teenagers with what a police officer termed a "morbid sense of entertainment" have been charged with killing eight exotic birds at a zoo for abused animals.

Matthew Ronneberg, 18, Thomas Cavanaugh, 18, both of Forked River, N.J., and Matthew Mercuro, 18, of Waretown, N.J., were arrested Wednesday night and charged in the bludgeoning death of three emus, three ducks and two rheas at the Popcorn Park Zoo early Monday.

Authorities say the three, who were out joyriding in Mercuro's family car, jumped the fence at the zoo and attacked the animals with a rake and a length of plastic plumbing pipe.

Authorities said they were led to the three by a series of tips, some from as far away as New York state and Pennsylvania, although Capt. William Nally of the Lacey Township Police Department would not disclose the nature of the tips.

The birds were found dead in their pens Monday morning by zookeepers.

The three suspects have each been charged with eight counts of cruelty to animals and one count each of burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief. They are also suspected in other acts of vandalism in nearby Manchester Township, where a paintball facility was vandalized and a rock was thrown at a church, according to Nally.

The three could face up to 18 months in prison for each count of cruelty, three to five years for burglary and up to 18 months for criminal trespass and six months for criminal mischief, if convicted.

They were being held at the Ocean County Jail on $50,000 bail each pending a court appearance.

Nally said there was physical evidence at the scene, but would not discuss what it was.

"They were out in the general area, also in Manchester Township, committing various acts of violence and criminal mischief. They were out riding around looking for things to do," Nally said.

Nally said authorities believe alcohol and drugs were involved, but would not be more specific.

The general manager of the zoo, John Bergmann, said other animals there have been edgy since the attacks.

"We're still in a little bit of shock about what happened. We feel a little safer now" since the arrests, Bergmann said.

No decision has been made about distribution of $12,000 in reward money.

Barbara Lathrop, a member of the board of directors of Associated Humane Societies, which runs the zoo, said her organization would meet with police in an attempt to determine who was entitled to reward money.

A veterinarian who did the necropsies on the animals said the emus had their windpipes ruptured and their jugulars lacerated, in addition to suffering head trauma, and one of ducks had an eye gouged out.

"They suffered immensely," said Sherry Podhayny.

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