Joseph Paul

jpaul@jconline.com

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — A man accused of burning a cat alive attended a church study group hours earlier, according to court documents.

Noah A. Riley, 19, was charged Wednesday with one count of animal cruelty after a cat was found badly burned, doused in gasoline and tied up in a cornfield Jan. 11 near Crawfordsville Municipal Airport.

Riley turned himself in to police after photos of the cat, which later died from her injuries, began circulating on social media.

Riley, who is cited in a probable cause affidavit, told investigators that he was at a church study group with his girlfriend until 8:30 p.m. that night. Later, the couple went to a house where a man "offered to give the female cat to" him, the affidavit states.

Riley told police that he and his girlfriend, who is a juvenile, left the house and retrieved paracord and a can of gasoline from her residence, then set the animal on fire near an access road on the north side of County Road 500 South, the affidavit states.

Riley allegedly held the animal down while its legs were tied, poured gasoline on the cat and lit a match. He said the cat caught fire and began to run around before the pair left the area in his vehicle, the affidavit states.

When asked whose idea it was to burn the cat, Riley allegedly responded that "it was a mutual idea between him and his girlfriend, as they did not like cats." Further, he told police that "he thought it would be funny, but he has since felt guilty about the incident," the affidavit states.

Call J&C reporter Joseph Paul at 765-420-5339, email him at jpaul@jconline.com or follow him on Twitter:@JosephPaulJC.