Franklin C. Zeigler, of the Villas section of Lower Township, faces animal cruelty charges for allegedly decapitating a seagull in 2024. The photo is from a May 2025 court hearing involving separate charges of aggravated assault against Zeigler. (Credit: Cape May County Corrections)
A Cape May County man who allegedly ripped the head off a seagull last year after becoming incensed that the bird tried to steal his daughter’s French fries pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty charges during his arraignment Wednesday.
Franklin C. Zeigler, 30, of the Villas section of Lower Township, will remain in jail pending a July 30 status conference on the charges against him, according to Michael Taylor, assistant criminal court administrator for Cape May County.
Taylor said Zeigler indicated that he plans to apply for admission to Recovery Court, a program for criminal defendants who have alcohol or substance abuse problems. Recovery Court offers guidance, treatment and close supervision to help defendants overcome their addictions.
John Tumelty, Zeigler’s attorney, could not be reached for comment after the arraignment hearing in Cape May County Superior Court.
Zeigler was indicted on June 24 on charges that he “cruelly abused or needlessly mutilated a living animal.”
The indictment also included child endangerment charges involving a 2-year-old child in Zeigler’s care. The indictment identifies the child only as “Z.Z.” It says Zeigler “did cause harm to Z.Z., making Z.Z. an abused or neglected child,” but provides no other details.
Zeigler was arrested on July 6, 2024, after witnesses told police he had decapitated a seagull at Surfside Pier, one of the theme parks at Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks on the North Wildwood Boardwalk.
He became irate and uncooperative with officers while they were conducting an investigation that ultimately led to animal cruelty charges, North Wildwood police said in a news release last year announcing Zeigler’s arrest.
Seagulls are a common sight at the Jersey Shore, including on the Ocean City Boardwalk.Police said the investigation included photos of the decapitated seagull and statements from workers at Morey’s Piers who said Zeigler approached them for a trash bag while holding the dead bird.
According to court documents, Zeigler told police that he became angry when the seagull tried to snatch French fries from his daughter.
Witnesses at the scene told police that they saw Zeigler decapitate the seagull, North Wildwood police said in the news release.
Separately, Zeigler is also facing aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal restraint charges for allegedly beating up his ex-girlfriend, who is also the mother of his child, at his Villas home last May, according to court records.
Zeigler allegedly left the woman with swollen and bruised eyes and a bloody lip, forehead and scalp after he became angry with her, the records show.
The woman wanted to leave the house, but Zeigler allegedly refused to let her go “until her injuries were less apparent,” according to court records.
The woman was able to escape from the house later on by climbing through a closet window and running down the street before getting into a stranger’s car. The police were called, resulting in Zeigler’s arrest by Lower Township police, records show.
