#Winnipeg Couple Plead Guilty to Animal Cruelty for Selling Dark Web Videos

A disturbing case of animal cruelty has led to a Winnipeg couple pleading guilty to multiple counts of animal cruelty. Irene Lima and Chad Kabecz, both residents of Winnipeg, were arrested in October 2024, following an investigation into dark web animal torture videos.

#The Investigation

The investigation began with an anonymous tip to Manitoba's provincial veterinarian about a Telegram group called Goddess May Barefoot Premium Crush, which shared and sold videos of animals being crushed to death. The group had over 100 members and a price list for animals that could be killed, ranging from a baby mouse for $5 to a three-kitten family for $180.

#The Crimes

Lima and Kabecz's crimes involved creating and selling videos of animals being tortured and killed on a messaging app. The videos featured over 90 animals, including:

• More than 60 cats and kittens
• Seven birds
• Six rabbits
• Six hamsters
• Three goldfish
• A frog
• An axolotl

Lima would crush the animals under her bare feet, while Kabecz filmed the videos, which often had a sexual component. The evidence reviewed by prosecutors showed that more than 97 animals were tortured and killed by the couple.

#The Couple's Motivations

According to Lima's diary, which was seized by police, she described "how much she loved killing things with her feet and the pleasure that it brought to her." The couple's actions generated a profit of about $2,800 from May to October 2024.

#Charges and Sentencing

Lima and Kabecz have pleaded guilty to six counts of animal cruelty each. Their lawyers have stated that they hope the sentencing will provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding the case and that the couple will be viewed with compassion.

#Current Status

The couple is expected to be sentenced at a later date, following the completion of court-ordered pre-sentence reports. Prosecutors plan to recommend the same sentence for both Lima and Kabecz, but the specifics of the sentence have not been disclosed.

#Public Reaction

A small group of protesters gathered outside the courthouse, holding signs with messages including "keep killers in jail" and "lock up these monsters and throw away the key." One protester, Kristy Zamonsky, expressed her outrage and hope for a harsh sentence, stating that she hopes to see the couple handed "the harshest punishment they can get."