Palm Coast man accused of decapitating family’s pet parrot, threatening to kill relatives

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — A Flagler County man is facing a felony animal cruelty charge after deputies say he killed his family’s pet bird and threatened to kill family members during a violent mental episode.

Flagler County deputies were called to a home in Bunnell last week for a report of a mental emergency.

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The caller said the suspect, identified as 49-year-old Ronald Wright, had killed the family’s pet parrot and was threatening to kill family members.

According to the caller, Wright entered the home and threw the birdcage to the ground before stomping on it.

Deputies say the parrot ended up on the kitchen floor of the home at which point Wright picked it up, decapitated it, then threw the body across the house.

The caller said Wright continued to act strangely, smashing and jumping through a window of the home before attacking a parked car with a lawn chair.

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When deputies arrived at the scene, they say Wright was standing in front of the home with blood on him, yelling incoherently while resisting deputies’ attempts to take him into custody.

“This was a sad and scary incident for everyone involved,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “This is also an example of how situations can escalate to more dangerous crimes...He needs professional help before he escalates further.”

Wright was ultimately taken to Halifax Hospital under a Baker Act.

He was released from the hospital on October 4th and charged with felony animal cruelty and assault on a person over the age of 65.

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Wright was booked into the Volusia County Jail and remains there on a $25,000 bond pending a transfer to Flagler County.

Sheriff Staly used the case as an opportunity to remind residents of the resources available to people who are experiencing some kind of mental health crisis. For more information, click here or call (800) 273-8255.

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Cox Media Group