Thomas Martel has been accused of torturing and killing at least four cats.Photo:Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department
According toFox News, Thomas Martel turned himself in to the police on Monday after a woman filed a complaint of animal cruelty against him.
The 22-year-old has been charged with four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and two felony counts of animal torture, according to the Chicago Police Department.
“We’re seeing a pattern of going back again and again,” Judge Kelly McCarthy said during Martel’s bail hearing on Tuesday. “Killing an animal, going out and get a replacement, kill that one, get a replacement, kill that one, get a replacement; and unfortunately, this was allowed to continue for a sustained period of time, and numerous animals lost their lives.”
The girlfriend alleged to police she saw Martel drowning one of his cats while he was heavily intoxicated and taking narcotics, according to Fox News.
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Before she contacted authorities, Martel had allegedly admitted to her that he had microwaved three of the cats and placed them in a plastic bag, which he then stored in a cabinet in his apartment, according to police, per Fox News.
On Tuesday, Judge McCarthy set Martel’s bail at $75,000 with special conditions including electronic monitoring, no contact with any animals and all cats being removed from his home. He will next appear in court on July 17.
source: people.com
