Man arrested in chicken decapitations in Linden

• Police recovered six dead chickens, six bloody machetes and an injured chicken from the cemetery
• Blood was found on two tombstones
• Linden animal control removed the dead chickens and the injured chicken

LINDEN – A 41-year-old Wharton man is facing animal cruelty and possession of a weapon charges for allegedly using several machetes to decapitate and kill chickens at a Linden cemetery in what police believe was a religious or cultural ritual.

Leonard L. Edwards Jr. was arrested Monday by Wharton police on a Linden warrant related to a July 31 incident in which Edwards allegedly was seen using machetes to decapitate and kill several chickens in Rosehill Cemetery, Routes 1 and 9 northbound.

The dead animals were placed by some gravesites and blood from the chickens smeared on headstones, police said. Edwards was seen leaving the cemetery in his car.

Police obtained an arrest warrant for Edwards following a weeklong investigation by Linden Detective Michael Burnette, who gathered evidence and information at the scene.

Police recovered six dead chickens, six bloody machetes and one injured chicken from two sections of the cemetery. Two dead chickens were found in one section of the cemetery along with an injured chicken. Three machetes with blood were recovered in that area. Police found four more dead chickens and three machetes with blood in another section of the cemetery. Blood was found on two tombstones.

Linden animal control officers removed the dead chickens and the injured chicken. Police confiscated the machetes.

Edwards was released by Linden police after posting a $25,000 bond. If convicted, Edwards could face up to 18 months in jail and a $10,000 fine on the weapons charges. Animal cruelty is a disorderly persons offense resulting in a less severe penalty, police said.

Staff Writer Suzanne Russell: 732-565-7335; srussell@mycentraljersey.com