A couple has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for animal cruelty after making and selling videos of animals being tortured and killed.
Irene Lima, 56, and Chad Kabecz, 41, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to several counts of animal cruelty in a Manitoba courtroom in Canada.
The judge also banned them for life from having or being near animals.
Horrific abuse
Police found hundreds of disturbing videos and photos on the couple’s electronic devices. The videos showed them killing many animals, mostly cats, and sharing the content with customers online.
Investigators say the couple ran a private group where people paid to watch the abuse.
Authorities found that at least 75 animals, including cats and kittens, rabbits, birds, hamsters and more, were tortured or killed between May and October 2024.
A judge called the crimes extremely cruel and said the sentence showed how serious the animal suffering was.
Public reaction
Animal advocates and members of the public attended the sentencing hearing to support the victims.
Authorities first learned about the couple’s actions after an anonymous tip about a dark web group sharing animal cruelty videos. Police later arrested the couple after searching their home.
Animal welfare groups, such as the Winnipeg Humane Society, welcomed the sentence and said it was an important step in holding people accountable for serious cruelty.
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