Madison Burgess
A dad who viciously decapitated a seagull because it tried to eat his daughter’s chips has been handed prison time for his heinous crime.
It was in July 2024 when Franklin Ziegler, 30, from New Jersey, was seen holding the helpless headless bird while trying to find a rubbish bag near the Surfside Pier at Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Waterparks in North Wildwood.
He is said to have been angry when he saw the bird trying to snatch chips from his daughter, which is what resulted in him deciding to kill it.
Several employees at Morey’s Pier who were interviewed by police recalled how Zeigler approached them for a trash bag while holding the deceased bird in his hands.
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NJ.com reports that he admitted on police body camera footage to killing the seagull after it tried to take his daughter's French fries, and became confrontational with police while they questioned him.
After pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges, the father was sentenced to 262 days in prison, roughly eight months, court records show, and he was also issued up to $250 in fines, as per NJ.com.
Ziegler’s attorney, Jack Tumelty, said his client was admitted to recovery court, which is a program for defendants whose drug addiction is a primary catalyst of their criminal behaviour.
The attorney told the publication: “He was released from Cape May County Jail on Feb. 12 following a guilty plea entered in Cape May County Superior Court. Mr. Ziegler was sentenced to recovery court probation (special probation) on Thursday, March 12, 2026, and will be receiving outpatient treatment."
Zielger was indicted by a grand jury on June 24, 2025, a year after North Wildwood police charged him with the third-degree offences.
Animal activists have hit out at the sentence, including the charity In Defense of Animals' Justice USA, which branded it 'uncharacteristically light' and said they're 'profoundly disappointed'.
Senior campaigner Doll Stanley said in a statement: "263 days and a $155 fine is a slap on the wrist for a third-degree felony. This was a brutal act of torture committed in broad daylight in front of children. International human rights law recognizes the right of children to be protected from witnessing animal abuse."
She added: "New Jersey law allows for severe penalties and mandatory community service to teach animal abusers the value of life, yet the court missed a critical opportunity to hold this individual fully accountable.
"Prejudice against any species is unacceptable, and wildlife is not disposable. A fine of $155 does not equate to the value of a life or the trauma inflicted on the community."
In Defense of Animals also sent a letter with 11,223 signatures to Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland, calling for maximum sentencing, in addition to ensuring he receives mental health counselling and is not allowed to be around animals.
Tyla has contacted the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office for comment.