Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – April 10, 2024 – In a quiet Jonesboro neighborhood, some unexpected drama has unfolded, leaving residents bewildered and law enforcement perplexed. At the heart of this saga lay a seemingly trivial dispute between two neighbors, all over a cat named Peter.
It all began on a sweltering August day in 2023 when Lindsey Grogan, a resident of South Hill Drive, reported a pattern of events to the Jonesboro Police Department. Grogan recounted to JPD how her beloved feline, a gray cat named Peter, had mysteriously disappeared on multiple occasions, only to be found each time in a neighboring garage belonging to Donna Lee Baker, residing at 806 South Hill. According to Grogan, Baker would entice the cat with food, then refuse its return, citing concerns about its welfare.
According to an August 24, 2023 police report, Baker told police that she puts out food for her own cats and Peter comes over to eat. Baker then takes the cat, brings it inside her garage, and refuses to return it because she believes Grogan “does not take care of it.”
The report also states that law enforcement and Animal Control have intervened on several previous occasions, yet the conflict persisted.
Grogan expressed concern to authorities, noting that in previous instances when she has retrieved Peter, he has come back with injuries he didn’t have before. She believes these injuries have come from Baker’s cats fighting Peter. She also noted that the temperature on this particular August day was over 90 degrees outside, and Baker had locked Peter inside her garage (where it would be much hotter).
Over the course of several months and multiple alleged cat thefts, Grogan made “Cat Thief” signs for her front yard with arrows pointing to Baker’s house next door.
Fast forward to October 10, 2023 when the cat caper case took an unexpected turn. Responding to yet another call from Grogan, officers arrived on scene to find tensions running high.
Grogan reiterated her claims against Baker, alleging that her cat had once again fallen victim to Baker’s clandestine operations. Determined to get to the bottom of the matter, officers approached Baker, who denied any wrongdoing, insisting that she merely provided food and shelter for the cat out of concern for its well-being.
As the officers probed deeper into the matter, their suspicions were piqued by Baker’s evasive demeanor.
The October 10 report narrative from JPD Officer Jordan Fowler states “I pulled up the call logs for the residence, and this is the third time we have been to this location since August 24 in reference to [Baker] taking [Grogan’s] cat and not returning it.” The officer states he went into the house and spoke to Baker, who said she believes that Peter is mistreated so she leaves food in her garage for him.
The report goes on to say “I advised her of the allegations of her locking the cat in the garage to where Grogan cannot get to it. Baker stated she does not do that. I told Baker that Grogan believes her cat is currently locked in the garage and she advised it wasn’t. I then asked if I could check the garage to make sure the cat wasn’t in there. … Baker was hesitant to let me check but stated she would open the garage and I could look from the driveway. … Baker opened the garage and a solid gray cat matching the description ran from the garage.”
In light of this damning evidence of Peter seemingly making his escape from her garage in front of law enforcement’s eyes, Baker was cited for theft by receiving.
However, the saga didn’t end with Baker’s citation. Months passed and tensions simmered beneath the surface until March 31.
On Easter Sunday 2024, law enforcement descended upon Baker’s residence once again, armed with warrants for her arrest. The warrant was a result of a Failure to Appear charge based on the original Theft charges back in October.
With the warrants in hand, officers patiently awaited Baker’s return, bracing themselves for the confrontation. As Baker pulled into her driveway, she was taken into custody without incident.
Baker was transported to the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office.
She posted bond and was released the next evening.
Lindsey, Peter’s mother, spoke with JonesboroRightNow about how life has been since this series of unfortunate events unfolded in her once peaceful neighborhood. “My mental health suffered a lot because of her,” she said.
“Peter was caught in her possession three times. The last one was the final straw. The officer gave her a citation.” Grogan added, “I had to go over there many times because you could hear Peter screaming to be let out. She needs prayers and I really wish her the best.”
Grogan believes she called JPD more then 20 times over the course of 4 years regarding Baker and Peter.
Grogan sadly shared with us that Peter passed in January of this year, but wanted to remember his legacy and all the joy he brought to her family. “Peter was the coolest cat. He loved bird watching. He was my husband’s best friend. My kids adored him. He was everyone’s pet. He loved bringing me mice and squirrels. He loved jumping out the shadows to scare our dogs. He was pure magic, and we miss him so much.”
