The Beast of Berriedale: What Really Died at Wallcrest Road?

One week ago, police shot and killed an animal inside a Berriedale home. They called it an "exotic species" — probably an illegally kept big cat that escaped or was released.

It's a tidy explanation. It's also one that doesn't survive scrutiny.

The incident at 2 Wallcrest Road on 2 August has dominated headlines for its human toll: Kate Gibbons, 41, shot dead by police; an unidentified man found deceased in the basement; Benny Salter, 36, hospitalised with severe lacerations. But threading through the official statements and press conferences is a detail that authorities seem eager to gloss over.

Something was in that house. Something that, according to police, "posed an immediate threat to officer safety" and had to be destroyed. Something that mauled Benny Salter badly enough to require emergency surgery.

What was it?

The Official Line

Detective Inspector Sienna Blackwood, leading the investigation, has described the animal as "a large feline, potentially an exotic species." She has declined to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation.

"We are working with wildlife authorities to identify the animal and determine its origin," DI Blackwood said at a press conference on 3 August. "At this stage, we believe it may have been an illegally kept exotic that escaped or was released."

The statement raises more questions than it answers. If authorities believe the animal was illegally kept, they presumably have some theory about who kept it. Yet no charges relating to illegal animal possession have been filed. No person has been named as a suspected owner. The property owner, Luke Smith, 34, still remains unquestioned and uncntactable.

No Missing Animals

The Tassie Independent contacted the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment to inquire about exotic animal imports and any reports of escaped or missing large cats.

A spokesperson confirmed that no exotic feline has been reported missing anywhere in Tasmania. More significantly, the department has no record of any large cat being legally imported into the state in the past decade.

"We maintain detailed records of all exotic animal imports requiring permits," the spokesperson said. "There is no record matching the description provided by police."

This leaves two possibilities: either the animal was smuggled into Tasmania through illegal channels, or it came from somewhere authorities haven't considered.

Species Unknown

Perhaps most troubling is the apparent difficulty in identifying what, exactly, the animal was.

Wildlife authorities were called to examine the remains on 3 August. According to sources within the department who spoke on condition of anonymity, the initial assessment was inconclusive.

"They couldn't match it to any known species," one source said. "The morphology was consistent with a large felid, but certain features didn't align with any documented big cat. They've sent samples for further analysis."

When asked to confirm this account, the department declined to comment, stating only that "examination of the animal remains is ongoing."

The remains themselves have been secured by Tasmania Police and are being held as evidence. Requests for photographs or detailed descriptions have been denied.

The Survivor

Benny Salter remains at Royal Hobart Hospital, where he is recovering from what police described as "deep lacerations consistent with animal attack." He underwent emergency surgery on the night of the incident and spent several days in intensive care before being moved to a general ward.

Mr Salter has not yet spoken publicly about what he witnessed. Family members have declined interview requests, stating only that he "needs time to recover."

Police have conducted preliminary interviews with Mr Salter but have not released details of his account. DI Blackwood confirmed that Mr Salter's testimony "will form an important part of our investigation" but offered no further comment.

Whatever Benny Salter saw in that house, he's the only person still alive who witnessed it up close.

Unanswered Questions

The Berriedale incident has left a trail of mysteries that the official narrative does little to resolve:

If the animal was an illegally kept exotic, where did it come from? Who owned it? How did it end up in Luke Smith's house?

Why can't wildlife authorities identify the species? Tasmania has no native large cats. Any exotic feline should be readily identifiable by experts.

What were Kate Gibbons and Benny Salter doing in the house? Neither had any known connection to the property or its owner.

Who is the unidentified man found dead in the lower level? Police have released no information about his identity or cause of death, stating only that his death occurred "several days prior" to the 2 August incident and is being treated as suspicious.

The official explanation — escaped exotic pet, tragic coincidence, case closed — may satisfy those who prefer their news uncomplicated. But for anyone paying attention, the questions are only beginning.

Tasmania Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers

Adam Panchak is Senior Investigative Journalist at the Tassie Independent.