Amy Fisher's son charged in South Florida cat cruelty case
Brett Anthony Bellera, Amy Fisher's eldest son, faces an aggravated animal cruelty charge after investigators examined the death of his pet cat.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Amy Fisher's eldest son has been charged in a South Florida animal cruelty case after investigators said his pet cat died from fatal heat exposure, TMZ reported.
Brett Anthony Bellera, 25, is facing a charge of aggravated animal cruelty tied to the December 2024 death of his cat, Reaper, inside a South Florida apartment, according to TMZ and the Broward County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators said a forensic review found the cat suffered severe pain before dying from what was described as involuntary heat exposure, TMZ reported. The injuries were said to be consistent with microwave radiation, being placed in hot water, or exposure to hot water vapor, according to investigators cited by TMZ.
Authorities have not publicly identified which of those possible causes led to Reaper's fatal injuries, TMZ reported.
Girlfriend also charged
Jennifer Armenti, identified by the Broward County Sheriff's Office as Bellera's girlfriend, is also charged in the case, TMZ reported.
Law enforcement became involved after a friend of the couple contacted authorities to report the cat's death, according to TMZ. Animal control workers later found Reaper's body on the apartment's back patio inside a laundry basket, with a large amount of blood around it, TMZ reported.
The discovery led to a lengthy investigation before charges were filed, according to the outlet.
Armenti allegedly told investigators she found Reaper on the bathroom floor and at first thought the cat had been poisoned after getting into household cleaning products, TMZ reported.
Bellera was formally charged while already being held in custody on unrelated cases, according to TMZ. Armenti was arrested separately this week in Miramar, Florida, the outlet reported.
TMZ did not report any public comment from Bellera or Armenti on the allegations.
Fisher family name returns to headlines
Bellera is the son of Amy Fisher, who became known nationally as the "Long Island Lolita" after a 1992 shooting case. Fisher was 17 when she shot Mary Jo Buttafuoco, the wife of Joey Buttafuoco, who was then Fisher's lover and 21 years older than her, TMZ reported.
Mary Jo Buttafuoco survived the shooting and was left with permanent facial paralysis, according to TMZ. Fisher served several years in prison and was later released on parole.
Bellera's father is retired NYPD officer Louis Bellera, TMZ reported. Fisher and Louis Bellera are divorced.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.