DA drops charges against man accused of throwing kittens to their death on I-65 in Homewood
Prosecutors and the police investigator determined there was no probable cause to believe the man charged committed the crime.
Mason Reed 
A legal case that gripped the Homewood community has come to a sudden end. Charges of aggravated animal cruelty against 21-year-old Thomas Ronald Liccione, who was accused of throwing kittens from a moving vehicle on Interstate 65, have been officially dismissed.
The Dismissal
The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office filed a motion this past Friday to drop the charge against Liccione. The motion stated that there was no longer sufficient probable cause to believe he had committed the offense. Jefferson County District Judge William Bell promptly granted the request, effectively clearing the path forward for the accused.
Liccione was initially taken into custody on May 31 following a string of 911 calls reported on May 30 regarding the incident near Lakeshore Parkway.
A Call for Due Process
Eli Sargent, representing Liccione, emphasized that his client maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal. “While the allegations generated significant public attention, the swift dismissal speaks for itself,” Sargent noted. He added that the case serves as a poignant reminder to the public not to rush to judgment, reinforcing that an arrest remains an unproven allegation rather than a conviction.
The Investigation
The initial allegations stemmed from witnesses in another vehicle who reported seeing five kittens discarded from a car on the interstate, all of which were subsequently struck and killed. While those witnesses provided a physical description and a tag number, the ensuing investigation by Homewood police—which included reviewing body camera footage, 911 audio, and cell phone data—ultimately failed to substantiate the claim.
Deputy District Attorney Shawn Allen confirmed that after consulting with investigators, prosecutors concluded there was no probable cause to proceed. However, the District Attorney’s office noted that if new, definitive evidence surfaces identifying a responsible party for the act, they will take the necessary legal action.
