SANTA ANA, CA — A man accused of abducting and killing numerous cats across Orange County has been taken into custody, Santa Ana police confirmed Wednesday.

Authorities identified the suspect as Alejandro Acosta Oliveros, 45, of Santa Ana, who has been dubbed a “serial cat killer” by law enforcement.

Officers executed a search warrant at Oliveros’ residence on Wilshire Avenue, where he was arrested without incident.

In a video posted to the Santa Ana Police Department’s official Instagram account, investigators revealed that Oliveros has already confessed to his actions.

However, authorities noted that the full extent of the crimes is still under investigation.

As of Wednesday afternoon, police had not disclosed the total number of cats believed to have been harmed, but detectives indicated that the number could be substantial. “We believe the scope of this case is significant,” an official stated. “We’re working diligently to uncover how many animals may have been affected.”

Concerns about the suspect had been building for weeks, as numerous Santa Ana residents reported disturbing incidents involving missing or harmed cats.

Many shared surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts online, warning neighbors—particularly pet owners—of a man seen luring cats from private yards and neighborhoods.

One particularly notable case occurred on March 21 in Westminster, where surveillance video captured a man, believed to be Oliveros, seizing Clubber, a 10-month-old Bengal Lynx cat.

Although Clubber was eventually recovered and returned home, the suspect evaded capture until this week.

Following the initial catnapping reports, the situation escalated when residents began to suspect that the stolen cats were being killed.

On platforms such as Nextdoor, disturbing accounts emerged.

One resident described witnessing a man bind a cat’s legs and carry it away.

Another user reported that a neighbor’s cat died after allegedly being injected with an unknown substance by the suspect.

“We saw the camera footage—this guy just grabbed a cat, tied its legs, and walked off toward McFadden,” one post read. Another wrote: “My neighbor’s cat was killed. He was injected with something and didn’t survive.”

In light of these revelations, police believe Oliveros may be responsible for multiple such acts across Santa Ana and possibly other nearby communities.

Authorities are working to determine whether any additional suspects are involved and are in the process of compiling evidence to present to the District Attorney’s Office.

Santa Ana Police officials have indicated that formal charges could be filed within the coming days.

The investigation remains ongoing, and residents are urged to report any suspicious activity or relevant information that could assist in the case.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Santa Ana Police Department.