If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, call the El Paso’s Emergence Health Network at 915-779-1800 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

An El Paso man accused in the gruesome killing of a cat in which he ripped it open and ate it’s intestines was released from jail as he receives mental health treatment while his case remains pending, authorities said.

Krystopher Nathan Torres, 21, was released Wednesday, Aug. 7, from the El Paso County Jail in Downtown after he was granted a personal recognizance bond, also known as a PR bond, by El Paso County Magistrate Judge Linda Estrada.

A PR bond is when a defendant is released from jail without having to post bail as long as the defendant agrees to and abides by several conditions set by a judge.

Torres was arrested on July 19 on an animal cruelty charge after he allegedly fatally stabbed a cat in the 3000 block of Douglas Avenue, El Paso police officials said. He was taken into custody after he fled the scene of the cat killing, allegedly stole a car and crashed it, state prosecutors and court documents stated.

Torres must continue with mental health treatment

Torres appeared clean shaven wearing a jailhouse jumpsuit at a teleconference bond hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 7, from the El Paso County Jail.

Torres’ attorney, Julia Martin, asked for Torres to be released on a PR bond since her client and his family did not have the money to pay the $100,000 bond he was being held on.

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He would go live with his mother in Ruidoso, New Mexico if he was granted the bond and would get mental health treatment at the Ruidoso Behavioral Health Center, Martin told Judge Estrada. Martin was unsure if Torres had been receiving mental health treatment before his arrest.

“It seems like he has probably had mental health treatment,” Martin said during the bond hearing. “This sounds like someone that was not on medication.”

Assistant District Attorney Hallie Rideout requested Torres’ bond remain at $100,000 because of the gruesome nature of the incident.

Judge Estrada ruled in favor of Torres and granted a PR bond with “enhanced level supervision,” she said. She ordered Torres to continue receiving mental health treatment and provide proof he is actually getting treatment to his bond officer. Torres was also ordered to report by phone every 30 days to his bond officer.

Man allegedly stabbed cat with screwdriver, ate its intestines

Torres was allegedly seen about 12:50 p.m. July 17, stabbing a cat with a screwdriver and eating it in a parking lot located at 3000 Douglas Avenue in the Five Points area, a complaint affidavit states.

The cat was placed in a black plastic bag and inside a trash dumpster by employees of a nearby restaurant, The Junction Brunch House, the affidavit states. An animal services officer took the cat out of the dumpster and placed in his service unit.

Police responded to the scene, but Torres had already left.

Officers were notified Torres was arrested on suspicion of theft of a vehicle and was taken to Del Sol Medical Center after being in a car crash, the affidavit states. The affidavit does not state what injuries Torres sustained.

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The officers found the intestines of the cat in the middle of the entrance to the parking lot. The cat’s head had been crushed and its body ripped open, the affidavit states.

Torres was released from the hospital and taken to the police Central Regional Command Center to be interviewed by officers.

He allegedly admitted he saw the cat and, “for unknown reasons stepped on the cat’s tail with his left foot,” the affidavit states. He allegedly stomped on the cat’s head four times with his right foot. Torres said he used a screwdriver he stole from a construction site to stab the cat and ripped open the cat’s body with his hands, the affidavit states.

After the interview, he was placed in a holding cell, where he told an officer he had eaten the cat’s intestines and took four bites of the cat, the affidavit states.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso man accused of killing cat, eating it released from jail