UF Student Who Killed Hamster Facing Animal Cruelty Charge
On October 16, 2024, the University of Florida (UF) Police Department (UFPD) charged Benjamin Chase Cohen, 18, with animal cruelty for killing a fellow student’s hamster on the 4th floor of the Broward Common area.
On September 12, 2024, the victim met with police and said the previous night, around 11:00 p.m., she saw Cohen walking towards her and wanted to introduce her hamster to him.
Cohen began kicking the hamster ball while the hamster was inside it. The victim told him not to because her hamster was in the ball. Cohen then stomped on the hamster ball and killed the victim’s pet.
The victim believes that Cohen intentionally killed the hamster because he was warned there was a hamster in the ball before crushing it.
Cohen killing the hamster caused the victim extreme emotional distress.
The victim and a witness contacted a resident advisor and notified her of the incident.
The victim and the witness told UFPD Officer J. Rivera they didn't immediately contact police because “they were in fear of Cohen retaliating.”
When Rivera was investigating at Broward Hall, Cohen approached him and requested to speak. Rivera reported the following:
“Cohen stated he walked into the common area and noticed the ball on the floor. He began to kick it lightly and was told to stop. He then thought it would be funny to stomp on the ball and break it. During this time, he advised he did not know there was a hamster inside of the ball. The reaction from everyone else in the common area is what made him realize what he had done.”
UF Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (SCCR) was placed in charge of Cohen’s student disciplinary matters.
The UF student directory confirms that Cohen is an active student at UF.
GnvInfo reached out to Cohen’s private attorney for comment, but she hasn’t responded.
The Alachua County Jail confirmed Cohen hasn’t been arrested for his charge.
Cohen was issued a summons and appeared on November 21, 2024.
Cohen is currently pleading not guilty, but he is scheduled to change his plea on February 3.
GnvInfo is currently unable to physically identify Cohen with a picture.
