Depraved dad ripped seagull’s head off after it tried to nick his daughter’s chip
Franklin Zeigler, 30, has been jailed for eight months after decapitating a seagull with his bare hands in front of shocked children at a seaside attraction
Franklin Zeigler(Image: Cape May Corrections)
A seagull was decapitated by a dad in front of a group of horrified children. Franklin Zeigler, 30, has been jailed for eight months after he brutally attacked the bird with his bare hands at a popular seaside attraction.
The father reportedly became enraged when the gull tried to steal a chip from his daughter at Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Waterparks, New Jersey, USA in July 2024. Witnesses described the horrifying moment as Zeigler “cruelly abused or needlessly mutilated a living animal”.
After the incident, Zeigler reportedly asked a staff member where the bins were while still holding the beheaded bird. When police arrived for an unrelated matter, he became “irate and uncooperative with officers”.
This led to Zeigler’s arrest for disorderly conduct. The enraged dad later pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including third-degree animal cruelty, and initially faced a possible three to five year prison sentence.
However, the judge handed down a sentence of just 263 days, which is the equivalent to time already served, The Sun reported. He also received five years of probation and a £117 ($155) fine.
The decision has sparked outrage among animal rights campaigners, who called the punishment a “slap on the wrist”. In the UK, this type of act could lead to a prison sentence of up to five years, as well as an unlimited fine.
All wild birds in Britain, including seagulls, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the extreme nature of such an attack would also likely be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Since the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021, the maximum penalty for causing “unnecessary suffering” to an animal has been increased from six months to five years’ imprisonment.
In cases involving sadistic behaviour or extreme violence, especially when witnessed by children, a UK court would view the offence with high culpability.
There is no upper limit on fines for these offences, and courts often impose disqualification orders, banning offenders from owning or keeping animals for a set period or for life.
Zeigler’s lawyer, Jack Tumelty, did confirm his client had been admitted to a recovery court focused on drug and alcohol abuse.
He stated: “He was released from Cape May County Jail on February 12 following a guilty plea entered in Cape May County Superior Court.
“Mr. Zeigler was sentenced to recovery court probation (special probation) on Thursday, March 12, 2026, and will be receiving outpatient treatment.”
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