Animal Wellness Action Applauds Arrest in Viral Opossum Burning Case but Calls for Full Accountability and Stronger Charges

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy previously applauded the arrest of Cameron Bernard Torrence in connection with a viral video showing an opossum being set on fire—but the groups are calling for the arrest of all individuals involved and for the most serious charges to be pursued against those responsible. 

“Enforcement in this case is lagging, and law enforcement must take action against all perpetrators involved in this case, given the severity and malice evident in this crime,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy.

 Torrence was taken into custody on May 8 and faces multiple charges, including instigating cruelty to animals, fleeing and eluding arrest, and a probation violation. However, at least two others appear to have participated directly in the act, and justice demands appropriate follow-up and charges leveled against them.

Public outrage erupted after a video circulated widely on social media, showing at least three individuals involved in the horrific incident. The footage depicts two people dousing the opossum in lighter fluid and setting the animal on fire, while a third person filmed the attack. Wildlife officials and local law enforcement, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, have been investigating the case.

“Arresting all perpetrators is not just a matter of justice for a savage act against an innocent animal,” said Pacelle.  “It’s about protecting the community. If these people are handled in a serious way by the justice system, we’ll see violence from them flare up again, and it will likely be of the same level of ruthlessness and callousness.”

Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy also called on prosecutors to pursue the strongest available charges.

The organization previously offered a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible and received numerous tips, which they shared with law enforcement. They are in communication with authorities to determine which leads contributed to the arrest and will continue monitoring the case as it moves toward prosecution.

Cases like this are a significant reason the groups are pushing for passage of the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act, H.R. 1477. The bill would create a new Animal Cruelty Crimes section within the Department of Justice to combat acts of malice toward animals. It was introduced in February by a bipartisan group of House lawmakers, including U.S. Reps. David Joyce, R-Ohio, Joe Neguse, D-Colo., Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn.

The new section would concentrate on enforcing federal anti-cruelty laws, including a series of measures signed by President Trump during his first term. Trump had a signing ceremony for the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act and signed measures into law to prohibit dogfighting and cockfighting in the U.S. territories and to make it a federal crime to sell dog and cat meat for human consumption.

This association between cruelty and broader violent actions is detailed in this fact sheet