A Clayton man was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison after he was sentenced for having child pornography and killing animals on video.
According to the documents and information presented in court, the Johnston County Sheriff's Office initially investigated 23-year-old Nathaniel Rogers Truitt for domestic violence. Truitt called 911, claiming a family member pepper-sprayed him.
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The family member then told deputies they found videos of Truitt torturing and murdering the family cat.
During the sheriff's office's investigation, Truitt confessed that he filmed himself killing the family cat at the request of a stranger on the internet. He also confessed to killing stray cats and engaging in sexual acts with these dead animals, also at the request of an online stranger, according to deputies.
Sheriff detectives seized and searched his devices, which then revealed child sexual abuse material, along with animal cruelty videos.
Truitt was charged by deputies for these crimes in February 2024.
On Jan. 27, 2026, Truitt was sentenced in federal court for the crime of receipt of child pornography. Then on Wednesday, Feb. 4, he was sentenced in Johnston County District Court for the crimes of cruelty to animals and crimes against nature.
Truitt received a total maximum combined prison sentence from both State and Federal courts of 138 months (roughly 11.5 years) in prison, followed by 120 months (10 years) of federal supervised probation.