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Manhunt for Duckling Killer in Irvine
27 Jun
Summary
- Man wanted for allegedly beating a duckling to death.
- Prosecutors charged a 71-year-old man with multiple felony counts.
- An arrest warrant for $50,000 has been issued for the suspect.
Authorities in Irvine are searching for Randall Lee Bertsch, a 71-year-old man accused of violently killing a duckling and severely injuring another at a community pool on May 13. Prosecutors have filed multiple felony and misdemeanor charges against Bertsch. A judge approved an increase in his arrest warrant to $50,000, and he is now actively being sought by law enforcement.
According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Bertsch allegedly grabbed ducklings from the water and struck them with a plastic recycling bin. The incident resulted in the death of one duckling and serious trauma to another, while the mother duck and eight other ducklings were unharmed. If convicted, Bertsch faces a potential jail sentence of up to seven years and six months.
Mallard ducks are protected under federal law as migratory birds through the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This law generally prohibits harming such species without authorization. Local authorities also remind residents not to handle distressed wildlife themselves and to contact animal services instead. Bertsch's case is being handled by the Orange County District Attorney's Animal Cruelty Unit.
