Gothard, a fine arts senior, allegedly dropped more than 30 live mice into polyester resin, allowed them to suffocate as the resin hardened and then cut the resin into 53 blocks, which he hung or placed on a pedestal. Mice autopsies and a series of interviews conducted by UF police are the basis for the charges that have been filed, UF police spokeswoman Jamie Hyden said. The autopsies revealed that some mice were alive when they were dropped into the hot polyester resin used by Gothard, she said. In an interview last week, Gothard's attorney, Robert Rush, said whether the mice Gothard used were alive or dead was immaterial, because there was no cruelty involved in Gothard's creative process. Evidence gathered by UF police will be reviewed by the State Attorney's Office, and the office will decide whether or not to have Gothard arrested under charges of cruelty to animals, Hyden said.
Animal cruelty is a third degree felony in Florida.
Because the State Attorney's Office was closed on Friday, no one was available for comment.