A Florida man accused of butchering horses and pigs in the notorious kill zone of the C-9 basin of Florida was arrested this month by Miami- Dade Police and charged with 30 counts of animal cruelty resulting in death, according to Animal Recovery Mission Founder Richard “Kudo” Couto, the private citizen who blew the whistle on the slaughterhouse.

Yurianne Hervis-Gonzalez, 33, was arrested and held on $80,000 bond following a five-month undercover investigation by Couto, dubbed “Operation Noche Buena,” which draws its name from a holiday during which pig and horse meat is commonly served, Couto says.

“He was the main killer, the guy who was brought in to kill the majority of animals on the site,” Couto says in a telephone interview. Couto videotaped the slaughter of pigs noting that they were killed by “torturous” methods, stomping them and boiling them alive. “He was the most violent animal killer,” he adds.

Couto submitted a lengthy report in his complaint to the Miami-Dade Police, and will testify at an upcoming court hearing for Hervis-Gonzalez.

Although the charges against Hervis-Conzalez stem from the slaughter of pigs, the defendant is also a very “well known horse killer,” Couto says.

The arrest of Hervis-Conzalez has been reported throughout the mainstream press and Couto has spoken to many media outlets about his involvement in the investigation leading up to the arrest.

Couto founded the Animal Recovery Mission in 2010 after he discovered the extent of illegal horse slaughter and other animal killings taking place in the Florida Everglades. It was while volunteering for the SPCA that Couto investigated an illegal slaughterhouse in the C-9 Basin, and wound up rescuing chestnut ex-racehorse Thoroughbred Freedom’s Flight from a horrible death. (Please see earlier story on Freedom’s Flight).

Since founding the Animal Recovery Mission, Couto has helped shutdown illegal slaughterhouses by investigating their activities, and filing complaints with the Miami-Dade Police.

“We’re not private investigators. We’re your typical, normal civilians” trying to shut down illegal slaughterhouses, and help stem animal cruelty, he says.

The arrest follows the arrest of two others connected with the illegal slaughterhouse. Raul “Freaky” Fernandez was arrested in (December) and Yonisley (Pipe) Garcia was arrested less than a month later, according to the Miami Herald. Donations to support ARM maybe made via this hyperlink. ♦