Anigar Monsee, Convicted of Animal Cruelty in Upper Darby, Launches GoFundMe to Avoid Seven-Year Sentence and Deportation

Anigar Monsee, a 28-year-old Liberian national residing in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, has been convicted on four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. Monsee tortured and killed animals, including rabbits, pigeons, and chickens, in videos she posted on her YouTube channel with 20,000 subscribers to gain social media engagement. The conviction stems from her actions of disemboweling, skinning, and killing live animals on camera, which she claimed were part of traditional meal preparation. Following her conviction, Monsee launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to prevent her deportation from the United States. She argues that she was merely cooking traditional meals and fears being separated from her daughter. The fundraiser has so far collected $322 towards a $10,000 goal. Monsee faces up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, with sentencing scheduled for July. The case has drawn significant attention due to the nature of the crimes and Monsee's subsequent fundraising efforts. Upper Darby Police Superintendent Tim Bernhardt described the case as 'disturbing and barbaric,' highlighting the role of public notifications and PETA's involvement in bringing the case to light. In one of the videos, Monsee tortured a pigeon for 49 minutes before killing it. Animal rights groups have praised the verdict, emphasizing the message it sends against animal abuse.