BAILEYVILLE – The brutal killing of the cat named Papelbon last year has attracted the attention of a national animal rights group that hopes a reward will help jog some memories.

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals involved in killing the pet cat.

Randy and Michelle Clark named their cat Papelbon after the Boston Red Sox relief pitcher. Papelbon, the cat, was killed outside its home on Main Street on Nov. 19, 2006. The weapon was lying next to its body.

Although the Baileyville police declined to identify the weapon fearing it would compromise the investigation, it appeared the cat suffered severe head trauma.

This is not the first time a cat has been tortured and killed in Baileyville. Two years ago, three juveniles hit, stabbed and bludgeoned a 16-year-old cat to death. They were given what some considered “slap on the hands” sentences in 2006.

Chief Phil Harriman said Wednesday there are suspects and he is hoping the reward will jog memories. “We are hoping that the $2,500 reward will be the incentive for people who may know and probably do know what happened, but are lacking the incentive. Now they have an incentive to come forward,” he said.

HSUS spokeswoman Katie Lisnik agreed Wednesday that a reward does encourage people to step forward. Although the federal group has offered rewards eight times in Maine, it appears this is the first such offer in Washington County, at least according to records dating back to 2000.

The Clarks adopted the adult male cat in late February 2006. He was a stray who had wandered into a good home. On Nov. 19, Michelle Clark let Papelbon out for his nightly stroll. When she returned a few hours later, the family took an animal head count to see whether all of the pets were in for the night and discovered Papelbon was missing.

The next morning Randy Clark was up early to deliver newspapers. When he returned, he saw the cat lying across the street from the couple’s house between the curb and the sidewalk on a small patch of grass.

Anyone with information should call the Baileyville Police Department at 427-6203.