An American woman whose case sparked misinformation about immigrants eating pets has been sentenced.
Allexis Ferrell, 27, was convicted after authorities in Canton, Ohio, reported she had attacked a cat.
On August 16, Canton police responded to a call about a woman reportedly smashing a cat’s head with her foot and attempting to eat it, as reported by BBC News.
Officers found blood on Ferrell’s feet and fur on her lips.
Ferrell is a U.S. citizen, and the incident occurred about 170 miles (270 km) from Springfield, Ohio, home to a significant Haitian community.
The case was among several cited in false online narratives accusing Haitian immigrants of harming pets.
These rumors gained traction on social media and were eventually echoed by President-elect Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance.
During a September presidential debate, Trump stated: “In Springfield, they are eating the dogs. The people that came in, they are eating the cats.”
When pressed by CNN, Vance defended the claims, saying they were based on “first-hand accounts of my constituents” but did not provide evidence.
He also remarked: “If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do.”
Despite Ferrell’s U.S. citizenship, online posts falsely described her as an immigrant, fueling anti-Haitian rhetoric.
Canton Police clarified to the BBC that they had “not dealt with any complaints of Haitian immigrants at all.”
Similarly, Springfield Police refuted the claims, stating: “There have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.”
Ferrell pleaded guilty to charges of cruelty to companion animals and was sentenced on Monday.
Additionally, she received an 18-month sentence for violating probation linked to a prior child endangerment conviction.
During sentencing, Stark County Common Pleas Judge Frank Forchione expressed outrage.
“This is repulsive to me. I mean, that anyone would do this to an animal. I can’t express the disappointment, shock, [and] disgust that this crime has brought to me,” he said.
Despite the unfounded allegations, officials and community leaders in Springfield have worked to dispel the rumors, emphasizing the Haitian community’s contributions and the lack of credible evidence supporting the claims.
