Both are students at the University of California, Davis and were arrested for felony animal cruelty and conspiracy. Melendez denies any wrongdoing while police say Nguyen (above) was equivocal.
Police say that the students purchased one hamster at PetCo and hit it with a ruler and then put it inside of a cup and lit the bottom on fire. They then allegedly returned to PetCo to buy a second hamster the next day. That second hamster, named Robo, allegedly was tortured by Nguyen who hit him and put a Q-tip in its mouth and lighting it on fire.