Victory! Texas Shelter Employee Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Killing Dozens of Kittens

April 11, 2025 - Posted by Staff

We heartily applaud the sentencing of Gabriel Caswell, a former technician at the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter in Texas, who was convicted of animal cruelty for the brutal killing of many dozens of kittens under his care. 

On April 8, 2025, Caswell was sentenced to 40 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 12 charges of animal cruelty, for which he received 10 years each to be served concurrently. This sentencing is stacked on three separate previous convictions that resulted in a 30-year prison sentence. As part of his plea deal, he has also agreed to drop all appeals.

 

In the summer of 2023, shelter staff noticed an unexplained increase in kitten deaths, initially suspected to be disease-related or caused by environmental factors. Rigorous investigations — including sending specimens for testing and conducting necropsies — didn’t provide any answers. The shelter implemented extensive measures to mitigate possible risks, including installing new HVAC systems, revising cleaning procedures, and monitoring animal health and staff schedules. 

In July 2023, Caswell was finally seen violently mistreating a kitten, prompting immediate police intervention. Hired as an animal care technician in February of 2023, Caswell’s tenure was marred by the deaths of more than 80 kittens who had arrived in fair condition, 51 of whom died in June alone. 

When police reviewed video footage, they discovered harrowing evidence: Caswell was seen causing severe injuries to a black kitten, whose spine was severed. Caswell was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty on July 14, 2023, and again on July 29, 2023, after additional footage showed him viciously beating another kitten multiple times before eventually throwing the kitten’s lifeless body into the trash. He bonded out both times.

All in all, hundreds of hours were spent reviewing the shelter’s surveillance video footage by police, the district attorney’s office, and shelter staff, leading to a total of 15 charges of animal cruelty filed against Caswell. He went to trial for 3 of the animal cruelty charges and was convicted and sentenced to 10 years per charge, to be served consecutively, meaning 30 years in prison. 

In September 2024, Caswell pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges for killing one kitten. A jury sentenced him to the maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

In October 2024, a separate jury handed Caswell a 10-year prison sentence for the killing of another kitten.

In December 2024, Caswell pleaded guilty to another animal cruelty charge involving a kitten who survived his abuse. He chose to have the judge decide his sentence, and Judge Towson imposed an additional 10-year prison term.

He then pleaded guilty to the remaining 12 charges and was sentenced to 10 years for each charge, but this sentence was to be served concurrently, meaning only one 10-year sentence. Added together, he has 40 years to serve (which sadly will very likely be reduced due to prisoners not actually serving the amount of prison time they are sentenced to). 

Keep reading to learn what you can do to ensure this man is not paroled and instead stays in prison.

Of the 15 cases resulting in Caswell’s convictions, nine involved kittens who died, while six survived their injuries. Each incident had been captured on the shelter’s surveillance cameras.

We give our heartfelt thanks to 43rd District Judge Craig Towson.

Caswell’s pathetic excuse for his depraved and cruel actions? He had a pornography addiction and fathered an infant who wouldn’t sleep. People like this should never be allowed near human children or any other animals. They are a potential danger to all innocent beings.

We mobilized public support, delivering a letter with 13,787 In Defense of Animals supporters’ signatures to Parker County District Attorney Jeff Swain, advocating for Caswell’s conviction and maximum sentencing. We heartily thank all of you for caring and signing our alerts to get justice for animal victims of horrendous crimes.

It’s appalling that a person capable of such violence had access to helpless kittens. We commend shelter staff and law enforcement for their work to see Caswell held accountable for his actions. Enforcing animal cruelty laws not only brings a measure of justice for animal victims and their guardians but also protects our communities from further harm. The well-documented link between animal cruelty and human violence underscores how essential it is for judges to pass strong convictions for crimes against animals.

Jeff Swain, the wonderful prosecutor of this case, has made the following request for anyone and everyone who would like to see Gabriel Caswell serve his full sentence:

So, here is my request. Can you circulate this email to your fellow animal lovers and encourage them to write letters to the parole board asking them not to parole Gabriel Caswell?  Please send the letters to me as follows:

Parker County District Attorney’s Office

Attn:  Jeff Swain

117 Fort Worth Highway

Weatherford, TX 76086

We will make sure these letters get to the parole board. Anyone wanting to send an email can do so as well and we will make sure that we get them to the parole board.  However, I think written letters can make a greater impact, so that is my focus. Those preferring to email can send them to me at jeff.swain@parkercountytx.com.

A letter like this can sound intimidating to write, but it need not be.  No formality is required, but here are a few basics to get people started:

Address the letter to:  Texas parole board, members of the parole board, or something similar. Include the offender’s name:  Gabriel Caswell. Ask them to deny parole to Gabriel Caswell in whatever words you choose. Tell them why you want him not to be paroled (nature of offense, concerns about someone who would do this being released, etc.). Sign the letter and, if you are willing, give your address or at least your city and state.

That’s it!  It doesn’t even need to be an entire page.  Every letter will help.

Thank you in advance for your help!   

Jeff Swain

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