Duo Accused of Making ‘Sadistic’ Videos of Monkeys Being Tortured, Mutilated and Sexually Abused: DOJ

A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against Katrina D. Favret, 57, of Tennessee, and Robert M. Craig, 49, of North Carolina, charging them with commissioning, creating, and distributing gruesome videos depicting torture, mutilation, and sexual abuse of monkeys—described by prosecutors as “sadistic.”

According to the indictment unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, Favret and Craig allegedly conspired with convicted co-defendant Ronald P. Bedra, 55, of Ohio—who was sentenced last year to 54 months in prison—to orchestrate so-called “animal crush” videos. They reportedly used encrypted chat apps to direct payments to individuals in Indonesia, specifying the nature of the torture to be carried out on juvenile and adult monkeys.

Court documents indicate horrific misconduct, including videos of monkeys being sodomized with heated screwdrivers and having their genitals severed with scissors.

The FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division spearheaded the investigation. Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson, along with other DOJ officials, announced the charges in Dayton, Ohio. The defendants have not yet entered pleas.

Favret and Craig face felony charges under the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act—which prohibits creating, distributing, or possessing “animal crush” content—and the Lacey Act, which penalizes wildlife trafficking. Convictions could result in prison sentences, fines, and restitution.

The indictment is part of a broader federal effort to dismantle international animal cruelty networks. In May, at least 11 more individuals across the U.S. were indicted for funding or distributing similar monkey torture content. The 2024 conviction of Bedra marked one of the first major steps in targeting these illicit global networks.