Woman Accused of Killing Kittens

DOVER, Del. (AP/)- Authorities in Delaware are searching for a Florida woman accused of crushing three kittens to death with her hands.

"I don't even have words for it there's just they didn't ask for this and there's no reason anybody should be that cruel," says Teresa Ferrell, President of Josie's Place, an animal rescue operation.

Dan Healey of Millsboro says, "if somebody could so that, they can do anything. It's just cruel. If you can do that to a kitten or a dog, you could do that to a child."

The Delaware Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is trying to track down 21-year-old Ashley Barnes, who is charged with three felony counts of animal cruelty.

Barnes was arrested on April 17 and released on $1,000 unsecured bond. A warrant was issued for her after she failed to appear for a preliminary hearing on April 25.

SPCA investigator Amy Nicholson says the incident happened on April 6 while Barnes was staying with friends in Millsboro, and that Barnes may have been under the influence of drugs at the time.

Nicholson says Barnes had been staying in Delaware for only about five weeks, and that she may have returned to Florida.

Anyone with information on Barnes' whereabouts is asked to call the SPCA Georgetown Shelter at (302) 856-6361