Cranford man accused of putting dead cat inside NJ family mailbox

CRANFORD, New Jersey (WABC) -- Back in March, a family uncovered a startling surprise when they uncovered a dead cat had been placed inside their mailbox.

Police have now tracked down the person they say put it there.

Officials say 28-year-old Steven Elias is the man behind the disturbing act, which was captured on surveillance video.

The video footage captured a person walking onto the Saladino family's Cranford property on the night March 12 with an object in hand.

A NJ family found a dead cat inside their mailbox in Cranford earlier this week and now police need help tracking down whoever put it there.

After a nearly three-month long investigation, authorities identified Elias as the person behind it.

Elias was charged with several offenses related to the disturbing crime, including third-degree causing fear of unlawful bodily violence, harassment, and criminal trespass for placing the deceased cat inside the mailbox.

Authorities say the cat appeared to have been hit by a car or killed by another animal.

Elias was issued a summons.