Facebook Post About Cat-Killing Claim in Springfield, Ohio, Leads to Threats

Kimberly Newton said that her neighbor, Erika Lee, misstated her comments in a backyard conversation that became a widely circulated social media post.

A mural is displayed in an alley downtown in Springfield, Ohio. Springfield, home to a large Haitian community, was thrust into the national spotlight after former President Donald Trump accused members of the immigrant community of eating the pets of local residents. Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2024. Luke Sharrett/Getty Images

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—A backyard conversation between neighbors—followed by a misstated social media post that sparked a national media storm centered on reports of Haitian immigrants killing and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio—has led to a backlash that has both women fearing for their safety.

Erika Lee and Kimberly Newton live next to each other in what Newton describes as a “usually quiet and peaceful” neighborhood in this blue-collar city located midway between Dayton and Columbus in southwest Ohio.