Rufo Investigation Uncovers Evidence of Two Skinned Cats on Grill in Ohio Migrant Community, Contradicting Initial Denials

An investigation by conservative activist Christopher F. Rufo, published on his Substack, claims to have found evidence supporting former President Donald Trump's assertion that migrants were consuming pets in Ohio. The report details a specific incident in Dayton, Ohio, involving two skinned cats on a barbecue, challenging initial denials from public officials and media outlets. Rufo's findings emerged after Trump's controversial remarks during a presidential debate.

Former President Donald Trump sparked widespread debate when he stated, "They’re eating the dogs... They’re eating the cats" in Springfield, Ohio, attributing the practice to foreign migrants. This claim was largely dismissed by what Rufo termed the "establishment media" and contradicted by the Springfield city manager, who asserted "no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community."

Rufo's team, however, identified a social media video from August 2023 depicting "two skinned cats on top of a blue barbeque" in a Dayton, Ohio, neighborhood. The anonymous individual who filmed the video confirmed its authenticity and told investigators that "some Africans that stay right next door... had the damn cat on the grill." The location was verified by matching video visuals to the scene.

Further corroborating evidence came from interviews with other residents in the housing complex, who confirmed that African migrants occupied the units and that former neighbors had a blue grill and would "find meat." The investigation also included forensic analysis from a chicken farmer and a surgeon, cited in Rufo's follow-up article, who concluded the carcasses were feline based on anatomical features like leg structure and the ilium-to-scapula distance.

While the incident occurred in Dayton, not Springfield, and involved only cats, Rufo argues it "breaks the general narrative peddled by the establishment media and its 'fact checkers,' who insisted that this has never happened." He highlighted a potential cultural divide, noting that some developing nations, including the Congo, have traditions of consuming animals considered household pets in the U.S.

In a subsequent piece titled "Fact Checking the Fact Checkers," Rufo criticized CBS News for dismissing his report without conducting an on-site investigation. He emphasized the need for an "honest debate" about migration and culture, rather than immediately dismissing critics as "racists and conspiracy theorists," especially when presented with evidence.