Investigators said Wednesday it is unclear if the death of the feline with thousands of fans was an accident or something nefarious.
Lansdale Police are seeking credible information from the public related to the tragic death of Lansdale beloved feline mascot White’s Road Park Charlie, who was euthanized Monday after three years of life and changing lives in the North Penn area with his adventure and charm.
Owner Kristen Ortiz in her initial announcement in the White’s Road Park Charlie & Sonny Facebook group on Monday, said Colmar Veterinary Hospital officials implied the injuries suffered by Charlie – a transected, broken spine with severed nerves, and bruising by his tail – could have been caused by a human. The group has gained 90 new followers since Monday.
In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, Lansdale Police wrote its department was saddened to hear of the passing of Charlie, who had become a staple at the park.
“It is unclear if Charlie’s cause of death was a horrible accident or something more nefarious. If you do have any credible information about Charlie’s death, please contact us,” stated the announcement.
Tips and information can be submitted here: https://montgomery.crimewatchpa.com/lan.../134330/submit-tip
“This cat lived his short life to the fullest, that gives me comfort,” Ortiz wrote in her post. “He jammed enough adventures into his three years that most cats never experience in a long lifetime. I knew the risks of letting him roam, and I made peace with that decision as we always said he was ‘living his best life,’ but he never should have gone out this way.”
Ortiz said there is no evidence that Charlie was injured by a person.
She wrote in her post announcing Charlie’s death that the injuries suggest he was not hit by a car but may have been slammed to the ground or hit with something. She told North Penn Now on Tuesday she has witnessed teenagers in the past handle Charlie in a rough manner and even throw rocks at him.
“All signs point that way, but could it have been some other freak thing? Yes. All these Facebook posts wanting justice for Charlie, if someone knows something I’d hope they come forward, but in the end, we’ll probably never know,” Ortiz said.
A representative at Colmar Vet on Tuesday said the office does not comment on any cases to the media and claimed privacy concerns.
“We are not going to get into it,” the representative said.
