ROCKEFELLER TOWNSHIP, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A mink farm in Northumberland County was attacked, letting out over 700 animals, and now two people facing charges. What's more shocking is that the Massachusetts pair allegedly has ties to two anarchist groups.
Police say this security footage shows the suspects, 29-year-old Christopher Legere and 27-year-old Cara Mitrano, entering the mink enclosure around 1:00 a.m. on October 19 at the Richard H Strohl Sons Mink Farm in Rockefeller township.
It's the second time the farm has been attacked. The first was in September of 2023.
"The difference is that this farmer had installed security systems these people when they came in and alerted him," said Fur Commission USA Executive Director Challis Hobbs.
Police quickly made their way to the scene. However, Legere and Mitrano had already fled in their vehicle, striking one of the farmer's cars in the process.
The two were soon arrested during a traffic stop.
Hobbs tells 28/22 news that mink have a hard time surviving in the wild. Most die within 24 to 48 hours.
"One they'll die from thirst, they'll die from starvation, die from predators. These animals have been bred in captivity for over 100 generations. So they're not prepared to go out into the wild and kind of fend for themselves," Hobbs explained.
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Police say Legere and Mitrano released 683 mink. 619 have been recovered, 64 are still missing, and three have died.
Hobbs says the farm is fully regulated, and that the release of mink does more harm than good.
The suspects now facing the charge of eco-terrorism.
"It's a legal humane family-run business attacked by terrorists is really what happened at the end of the day here," said Hobbs.
Search warrants obtained by police discovered the suspects had wire cutters, a lock picking kit, and maps of the farm.
They also found anarchist propaganda, including instructions on how to set up a burner phone.
Local police made contact with the FBI and found that Mitrano and Legere were allegedly connected with two anarchist communes in Massachusetts.
Phone calls obtained by police reveal the pair was allegedly promised $50,000 for carrying out the release.
28/22 News reached out to an animal rights group that is supporting the suspects.
Confining wild animals in tiny cages for their entire lives to kill them for luxury fashion is unacceptable. Those who open cages and release animals into their native habitat are heroic. The fur industry is inherently cruel and deserves to be destroyed.
North American Animal Liberation Press Office Joseph Buddenberg
The two suspects are currently behind bars at the Northumberland County prison.
