BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — A man is facing multiple charges after placing dead animals at the Parkland shooting memorial outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Robert Mondragon, 29, faces charges of disfiguring a monument, violation of probation for battery, violation of a risk protection order and five charges for indecent exposure.
Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives said that during their investigation, they noticed that the man had a fascination with mass school shootings.
The dead animals were discovered throughout July by a school guard and a deputy.
Detectives said on July 20, a school crossing guard discovered a dead duck with its chest cavity cut open on a bench at the MSD Memorial Garden. On July 21st, the school crossing guard found a dead raccoon on the same memorial bench, and on July 31, a deputy found a dead opossum on the bench.
Surveillance video detected a white Nissan with black rims leaving the memorial on July 31, later that night BSO Parkland deputy spotted the vehicle, which had illegal window tint, and a traffic stop was conducted.
“The deputy said Mondragon was the only person in the car, and the deputy saw bird feathers and blood on the front passenger side floorboard. Mondragon told the deputy he had the dead bird in his car because he likes “the metal and blood smell that emits from the dead animal,” according to the report.
BSO V.I.P.E.R. (Violence Intervention Proactive Enforcement Response) detectives received information about Mondragon’s whereabouts and they arrested Mondragon on August 4th for violating his probation for battery and indecent exposure and for violating his risk protection order.
As detectives continued with the investigation, they found photos of the dead animals on Mondragon’s phone.
They said Mondragon’s facial tattoos resemble those of Tate Langdon, the character from the television series American Horror Story based on the Columbine High School massacre. They said they also found text messages about school shootings and internet searches about school shooters.
At this time, Mondragon is being held without bond.
Mariana Ortiz
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