Donald Trump fuels conspiracy with false claim about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Ohio
Republican presidential candidate and former US president Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the end of the day's proceedings in his criminal trial at the New York State Supreme Court in New York City, on May 3, 2024.
During Tuesday night's presidential debate, Donald Trump repeated a debunked conspiracy theory claiming that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were killing and eating pets. The false narrative, originally stoked by Senator J.D. Vance was swiftly dismissed by local authorities. Nevertheless, Trump reignited the story, further fueled by actor Kevin Sorbo, who shared police body cam footage showing the arrest of 27-year-old Allexis Telia Ferrell.
The bodycam footage, which was released by the Canton Police Department, captured the arrest of Ferrell, who is accused of killing and eating a cat in Canton, Ohio—not Springfield. Authorities quickly clarified that Ferrell, a U.S.-born Ohio resident, is not an immigrant. According to the Stark County Sheriff's Office, Ferrell has a history of criminal behavior, including drug possession and theft, but this is her first case of animal abuse. She is currently being held on a $100,000 bond.
Ferrell’s case has no connection to the immigration debate, but Trump’s remarks during the debate reignited online discussions. Canton Police have confirmed that Ferrell’s case is unrelated to the baseless claims about Haitian immigrants.