30-year-old Cameron Bernard Torrence of Mint Hill is facing charges for instigating the burning of an opossum last month in Charlotte.
Torrence was arrested on May 8, 2025, and booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail. He bonded out of jail on May 9, 2025. He faces multiple charges, including instigating cruelty to animals, fleeing to elude arrest, and violating probation. Despite the horrific nature of the video, authorities say Torrence was only charged with instigating the act, not the physical act of setting the opossum on fire.
The video, originally posted on Facebook on April 24, rapidly gained traction online. In it, individuals are seen pouring accelerant on the helpless animal before setting it ablaze.
Cameron Bernard Torrence
An investigation by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department led to Torrence being identified as a key suspect. According to affidavits, the video was directly linked to his Facebook profile.
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Social Media Users Shocked After Video of Charlotte Men Burning Opossum Goes Viral
He was initially denied bond, but it was later set at $10,000. Torrence is due back in court on August 1.
Animal rights groups including Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy praised the arrest but stressed that all parties involved in the crime must be held responsible.
“The arrest is not just a matter of justice for a savage act of cruelty against an innocent animal, but it’s a protective action for the community,” a joint statement read.
Authorities say the case remains under active investigation, and further arrests are possible.
