Colorado City cat buried alive in cement post suspected to be workings of polygamist group

COLORADO CITY, AZ - A kitten found nearly buried alive in cement is believed to be part of a string of cruel events done by a polygamist group in Colorado City, Ariz.

Video trending across the web this week showed the animal struggling in the cement.

The cat was immersed inside a metal tube for cement posts at the home of a former church member who later spoke out against the church and polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.

The man attempting to rescue the cat, Andrew Chatwin, was also a former member of the church, according to ABC15's Right This Minute .

Chatwin freed the cat after digging up the post, cutting it and chiseling out the animal.

The cat was reportedly taken to an animal sanctuary in Utah, but efforts to save it failed and the cat died a few days later.

Chatwin told Right This Minute that he suspects members of his former church were involved with the buried cat because animal abuse and threats have been ongoing for years.

He also reported that Colorado City officials weren’t concerned with the cruelty either and joked about the incident.

A YouTube video also documents the attempt to save the kitten from the cement.

Warning: The video may be disturbing to some viewers.