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- Illinois, USA -

 

A court date is coming up for 59-years-old LARS STIG SORENSEN (pictured), of Algonquin, charged with eighty-two (82) felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

 

Charges against SORENSEN were filed in October 2023, after a veterinarian at Huntley Animal Care told the authorities that SORENSEN had brought in five cats to be euthanized. According to the police report, the vet said the cats “were in horrible condition, ... covered in urine and some had upper respiratory infections on top of their visible injuries.” The vet also provided the police with pictures of the cats. “The cats had bleeding and infected wounds, looked visibly underweight and overall, looked extremely sickly”, stated the report.

 

An officer began investigating and learned that SORENSEN had gone to other veterinary clinics in the area bringing in cats to be euthanized. One of the clinics told police that according to their records, from 2014 to 2016 SORENSEN had been there and had euthanized a total of twenty-two (22) cats.

 

According to the press release by the Algonquin Police Department obtained by Voice For Us, officers obtained a search warrant which was executed at SORENSEN’s home on 316 Emerald Lane on October 23, 2023.

 

According to the police report, “the floors of the residence, walls, and many other surfaces were covered in what appeared to be feline excrement and hair.”

The report goes on to state: “There were an undetermined and uncountable number of cats throughout the residence. The interior of the residence appeared in complete disarray, with waste and filth throughout.”

 

Officials removed a hundred and one (101) cats from SORENSEN’s townhouse and the property “was condemned as unfit for human occupancy, due to the hazardous living conditions.”

 

Police said out of a hundred and one cats, sadly, eighty-two (82) had to be euthanized by Kane County Animal Control, “due to their adverse health conditions.”

The remaining cats are at Kane County Animal Control.

 

According to Daily Herald, Kane County Animal Control Executive Director Brett Youngsteadt said: “Our ultimate goal is to rehabilitate them so they can be adopted. In these hoarding situations, it becomes like ‘Lord of the Flies,’ with each cat jockeying for position.”

He also added: “We had to do what was best for these cats.” The cats could not be released as feral cats because they are imprinted by humans. If a feral cat is approached, it runs away. The cats would put the public at risk if a child or adult were to try to pet it.”

 

SORENSEN told police that he and his wife at the beginning had four cats. Later the couple allowed feral cats to come inside and they started breeding. 

 

It’s unknown why no one reported SORENSEN between 2014 to 2016 when the innocent twenty-two (22) cats were euthanized!

 

Court records show that SORENSEN is expected at Kane County Circuit Court on the morning of Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 9:00 before Judge Donald M. Tegeler Jr.

 

Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official documents provided to Voice For Us.

Please note that details may be removed or new information added should such sources report an update.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

 

 

SORENSEN’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Kane County Sheriff's Office.




 
 
 

- Illinois, USA -

 

Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley announced that 35-years-old CORTEZ JAMAL HOUSTON (pictured), was sentenced for “Aggravated Cruelty, Cruel Treatment and Violation of Owner’s Duties.”

 

According to a press release by Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley, on December 29, 2020, Winnebago County Animal Control Officers responded to a residence in the 3000 block of Bildahl Avenue in Rockford after an animal complaint.

In the backyard of the residence, officers found at least three dogs. As stated in the release, “These dogs were emaciated and without proper food and water.”

Sadly, officers also found a deceased dog who was being “consumed by the other emaciated dogs.”  The criminal complaint obtained by Voice For Us describes the deceased dog as a brown and brindle female Mastiff. The Voiceless Victim’s age and name were not mentioned.

 

A couple of weeks later, on January 13, 2022, Winnebago County Animal Control responded to a home in the 2600 block of Lapey Street in Rockford where HOUSTON was residing.

Officers discovered a dog who was “incredibly thin with no food or water.” Sadly, Animal Control Officers located a dead dog whom the criminal complaint describes as a tan and white female Pitbull mix. The Voiceless Victim’s age and name were not included in the complaint.

 

A necropsy was performed on the deceased furvictim and results showed that she died from starvation. According to the press release, “There was no food found in the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, indicating that the dog had not consumed any food for at least 24 hours. The dog’s stomach contained sticks.”

 

An investigation conducted by Winnebago County Animal Control determined that all of the dogs were HOUSTON’s.

 

On August 23, 2023, HOUSTON was found guilty of Aggravated Cruelty, Cruel Treatment, and Violation of Owner’s Duties after a jury trial before the Honorable Judge Randy Wilt.

 

In his press release, Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley said the following:

 

Aggravated Cruelty is a Class 4 Felony that is punishable by 1-6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by 6 months of Mandatory Supervised Release.  Cruel Treatment is a Class A Misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in the Winnebago County Jail or probation.  Violation of Owner’s Duties is a Class B Misdemeanor that is also punishable by probation or a jail sentence.”

 

Despite all that, on February 29, 2024, Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Randy Wilt sentenced HOUSTON to ONLY three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Not only that, but I also learned from the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office that HOUSTON was not banned from “owning” animals!

 

I took the liberty of naming the deceased furbabies Lilac and Wisteria for the tribute image. Should their given names be made public, I will rectify them accordingly.

 

I have also emailed Winnebago County Animal Control and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department to request pictures of all the Voiceless Victims. If I receive them, I will add them to the article.

 

Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the official press releases by the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office and copies of the criminal complaint provided to Voice For Us.

Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

 


HOUSTON’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office.



 


 
 
 

- Illinois, USA -


The Decatur Police Department announced the arrest of 53-years-old DERRICK DWAYNE TYUS (pictured).

 

In a media release police said that on December 11, 2023, the Macon County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control was dispatched to a property on 1259 E. Whitmer Street about two deceased puppies and a malnourished puppy in the backyard of the property.

 

Animal Control Officers did not see any food, water, or heat source for any of the puppies and Decatur Police were notified. A Decatur Police Officer conducted an initial investigation which included a neighborhood canvas in an attempt to identify the puppies’ guardian.

The investigation was subsequently assigned to a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division.

 

It emerged that TYUS was the puppies’ guardian and after consulting with the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office, a Decatur Police Department Person’s Wanted was issued for TYUS for three (3) counts of Cruel Treatment.

 

According to an update on the case, TYUS was arrested on January 3, 2024, booked into the Macon County Jail, and later released pending trial.

Police explained that Cruel Treatment is a non-detainable offense under the Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act.

 

Online arrest records show that TYUS is scheduled for an appointment with the office of the Macon County State’s Attorney on January 11, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.

 

I have emailed Decatur & Macon County Animal Shelter Foundation to inquire about all the Voiceless Victims in this case and if I get a response, I will post an update.

From a check on the organization’s Facebook page, I learned that the surviving puppy, Howie, has been adopted.

 

Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.

 

 

TYUS‘ mugshot shared from the Macon County Sheriff's Office.


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