Caleb Cottengain

Name:
Cottengain, Caleb Bray

Date of Booking:
06/17/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

SIMPLE BATTERY – FAMILY VIOLENCE

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On June 16, 2021, I arrived at [REDACTED BY AGENCY] regarding a welfare check on [VICTIM #1]. As I was arriving at the residence, I observed a white female getting out of an orange SUV and walking to the home. I asked the white female if she lived there and if she was [VICTIM #1]. She confirmed that she was [VICTIM #1], and she did live there. [VICTIM #1] stated that she fully moved in at the beginning of June 2025 and put a deposit down with [WITNESS #1], who also lives there.

I told her I was there for a welfare check on her, which had been sent by her grandmother, [REDACTED]. [VICTIM #1] stated that she was fine. I then asked who Caleb was, because as I was pulling up initially, I saw a note in the CAD that another caller called in stating he got a text from [VICTIM #1] saying that Caleb had “beat the living h*** out of me and almost killed me // he will kill me”. [VICTIM #1] stated that Caleb B. Cottengain lives in the same house as her, and they were “kind of” seeing each other. I had her clarify what she meant by that, with her stating that they are together but live in separate rooms. [VICTIM #1] noted that Caleb had a room on one side of the upstairs, and she had a separate room on the other side. [VICTIM #1] informed me that they were the only two who lived upstairs. [VICTIM #1] told me that he is home right now, in his room, and that he had been drinking this evening.

I asked [VICTIM #1] if she knew what that second caller was talking about, and [VICTIM #1] said, “Yeah”. I asked [VICTIM #1] if it was recent, and again she said, “Yeah,” followed by, “I don’t want to press charges.” [VICTIM #1] was hesitant to give me details at first. Finally, she told me that over a week ago, possibly the 6th or the 7th of June 2025, before this call, Caleb was drinking, just got mad for no reason, and he “punched me really hard in my arm”. When asked if they were fighting, arguing, or anything, [VICTIM #1] stated that he was angry because he was drunk. [VICTIM #1] stated that she was standing there when he hit her. She showed me her right arm. In the area where her bicep and triceps meet was a small yellow burse that appeared to be healing. She stated that it was left from Caleb hitting her. [VICTIM #1] then stated that he had also hit her thighs. She told me that she has photos of those as well. Then [VICTIM #1] stated that he killed a cat last Friday, 06/13/25, and had the body of it upstairs in his room or something.

As I was speaking with [VICTIM #1], her roommate, [WITNESS #1], had come out of the house, informing me that [VICTIM #1] had just told her what was going on and was already trying to make plans to get [VICTIM #1] somewhere safe. [WITNESS #1] also told me that Caleb’s mother, [WITNESS #2], was en route to our location. [WITNESS #1] stated that [VICTIM #1] had just told her about Caleb hitting her and killing [VICTIM #1]’s cats. [VICTIM #1] noted that one time, when he was attacking her, she called for help. [WITNESS #1] said that she didn’t hear her or thought they were playing around since they both yell while playing games and stuff.

Then, moments later, I spoke with [WITNESS #2] when she called [VICTIM #1]’s phone, confirming that she would be there. She told me she was tired of their lies and informed me that [VICTIM #1] was [REDACTED BY AGENCY] When she arrived, she would make everyone tell the truth. [WITNESS #2] told me that [VICTIM #1] was [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [VICTIM #1] confirmed it, stating that she was about [REDACTED BY AGENCY]

By this time, Caleb had stepped out of the house, wanting to know what was going on, to which I told him that I was there for a welfare check on [VICTIM #1]. Caleb asked if he could speak with [VICTIM #1], but I told him not at that moment. Caleb then walked back to the house. After speaking with [VICTIM #1] some more, I then walked over to Caleb to ask him some questions. I asked Caleb a couple of weeks ago when he was drinking if he had hit [VICTIM #1]. Caleb responded no. I asked Caleb if he got mad or something, and he responded, It’s a mutual thing. When I tried to get him to clarify what he meant, Caleb told me he didn’t understand what was going on.

I then shifted my questions about the cat. I asked Caleb if he had a dead cat upstairs. Caleb stated that no, he does not. I followed up by asking if I could go upstairs and look around his room to see. Caleb told me no, and I didn’t press it. I asked Caleb if he had been drinking that night, and he stated that he had. Caleb asked if he could speak with [VICTIM #1] again, and I told him no, but I would pass on any message. He again stated that he didn’t understand what was going on. About that time, [WITNESS #2] arrived on the scene.

[WITNESS #2] asked [VICTIM #1] for the car keys to a car that [WITNESS #2] owned, and was told that they were just inside the front door. She went inside for a brief moment, not going upstairs, grabbed her keys, and came back out. I then briefed her again on why I was called out there and what had been learned since my arrival. [WITNESS #2] then looked at Caleb and asked him, “Have you hit her? Yes, or no?”. Caleb stared at her for a moment and said, “Yes”. [WITNESS #2] asked him why, and his response was, “Because I was intoxicated and we were both intoxicated. It’s a mutual thing.” I asked him how it was mutual, along with did she come at you? Caleb answered “Yes, she was saying things”, “she was acting upset because of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and “she was acting upset because she didn’t want it”. I will add that, according to [VICTIM #1], and the time he punched her arm, she didn’t know [REDACTED BY AGENCY] [WITNESS #2] then asked Caleb about killing a cat, but he told her no, he did not. Shortly after that, [WITNESS #2] got back in her car and left.

At that time, Ofc Miller #133 and I were working on separating both parties for at least the night. Ofc Miller had spent more time talking with [VICTIM #1] about the alleged cat. Officer Miller informed me that he was going inside with [VICTIM #1], as she packed an overnight bag, and both went into the house. I spoke with Caleb for a few more minutes before heading upstairs to check on them. I found Officer Miller and [VICTIM #1] in the upstairs bathroom that they use. I asked [VICTIM #1] where the cat was, and she pointed under the counter, saying it was in the yellow plastic cat litter container.

I reached down, slid it out from under the counter, and opened it. When I opened it, I smelled the odor of a dead animal. As I continued to open the container, I saw a Lego box, and inside the Lego box was a lifeless cat. It appeared the cat was stuffed in the Lego Box. Based on the smell and hazy eyes, it seemed the cat had been dead for several days. I closed the box and took it downstairs to Caleb’s location. I asked Caleb about the cat. I asked him what had happened to it, who had done this, and why. I asked him several times, but he just stared at me with a blank look, saying nothing. I asked again, how it had happened, and why you had done that. After asking why you did that, Caleb responded, I don’t know. I tried to get more details out of Caleb about the cat, but He just looked at the cat, looked at me, and didn’t answer. I then placed Caleb under arrest and secured him in the back of my patrol vehicle. I read Caleb his Miranda rights and asked if he wished to speak with me. Caleb refused to talk further with me.

I had Officer Hames #153 transport Caleb to the CDC, where Caleb will be charged with Aggravated Animal Cruelty (16-12-04) and Simple Battery (FVA 16-5-23).

The above report is a brief synopsis of the events and statements at the time of the investigation. For further details, refer to my Axon body camera footage that has been uploaded to Evidence.com, where it will be maintained. The body camera footage also captured the injuries [VICTIM #1] sustained and the injuries Caleb sustained on his wrists from the cat. I have sent a request through Evidence.com to [VICTIM #1] for all photos, text messages, or anything pertaining to this case. [VICTIM #1] was given a Victims bill of rights.

[End of Narrative]