MONTEVALLO, Alabama - University of Montevallo authorities are continuing their investigation into the suspicious deaths of three cats found on campus earlier this month and asking for anyone with information to come forward to help solve the case.

"We're following all the leads that we can and hopefully we're going to come to a solution soon," university police Chief Chadd Adams said this morning.

The university's police department issued a crime alert last Thursday about the animal cruelty cases after the separate discoveries of three dead cats that had been killed in a potentially disturbing manner.

Jamie Bessette, director of university relations, last week said the discovery of the first dead cat happened on Oct. 16, with the second and third carcasses subsequently turning up a few days apart.

The locations were Flowerhill by the university's president's home, near a flag pole on the main quad and at the "Becoming" statue, he said.

"We appreciate everyone's support and cooperation," Bessette said this morning. "We're going to continue the investigation. If anyone has any concerns, definitely contact the police chief, the police department."

Authorities have indicated they do not believe the incidents pose a threat to students or faculty on the campus. "We feel everyone is safe and we look forward to putting this behind us," Bessette said.

The chief said there have been no further discoveries of dead cats on campus following the three reports. "I hope this had to do with something like Halloween, nothing more," Adams said.

He doesn't want rumors to worsen the situation. "It's bad enough, the situation itself, without anyone adding to any rumors on top of that," he said.

Adams declined releasing any specifics about the case due to concerns about jeopardizing the investigation. "We'll follow up with everything we get, and hopefully someone will come forward with some information and we'll take someone into custody," he said.

Anyone with information that could help investigators should call the University of Montevallo Police Department at (205) 665-6155 or e-mail the agency at umpolice@montevallo.edu.