The Will County state’s attorney’s office is partnering with First Secure Bank and Will County Crime Stoppers to offer a $5,000 award for information leading to an arrest and charges in an animal abuse investigation involving six dogs found dead in unincorporated Crete Township.
The dogs’ bodies showed signs of dogfighting, such as bite marks, State’s Attorney James Glasgow said Monday. They were all about nine months to a year and a half old.
“They were younger dogs, should’ve been healthy, in the prime of life,” Glasgow said. “Apparently they outlived their usefulness.”
Investigators do not have any substantial leads, Glasgow said.
Crete Township highway maintenance workers found the dead dogs March 3 in trash bags in a ditch near Norfolk Avenue and Kings Road, Will County sheriff’s Deputy Chief Jeremy Zdzinicki said.
“We need help from the general public to get justice for these animals,” Zdzinicki said. “They didn’t deserve to die this way.”
The $5,000 reward will be distributed upon charges being filed, said Jay Bergman of First Secure Bank, which is sponsoring the reward. Many rewards for information are instead paid out on conviction, which can take years.
“Someone could call Crime Stoppers or the sheriff’s department tomorrow and provide a tip that’s followed up upon,” Bergman said. “It could be a matter of several weeks, and when that happens, in several weeks somebody could be $5,000 richer.”
Glasgow said prosecutors are partnering with Will County Crime Stoppers to encourage people to call in with anonymous tips if they have any information. As Crime Stoppers is not a government organization, it is not subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.
“Obviously, I don’t want to diminish crimes against people for one second,” Glasgow said. “But this is just … something out of a really bad movie.”
People who harm animals frequently also pose a danger to other humans, Glasgow said.
“Eight hundred years ago, St. Francis of Assisi said that anyone who would deny shelter or compassion or pity to any of God’s creatures would do likewise to his fellow man,” Glasgow said. “Truer words have never been spoken.”
Glasgow cited instances of serial killers who also had killed and tortured animals, such as Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy.
“These six pit bull-type dogs were brutalized, killed and then disposed of like garbage,” said Anna Payton, administrator of the Will County Animal Protection Services. “Research shows that people who engage in this level of animal cruelty are often involved with high-level illegal activities, including violence against people.”
Payton encouraged people to report all instances of domestic animal abuse to animal protection or to local law enforcement.
“Animals are voiceless and we rely on people in the community to be their advocate,” Payton said.
While specific details were not provided, Payton said the dogs had been killed and had not been humanely euthanized.
David Silverman of Will County Crime Stoppers said people can leave anonymous tips at 800-323-6734. People can also contact the Will County sheriff’s office to leave tips, Zdzinicki said.
elewis@chicagotribune.com
