⚠️WARNING⚠️The article contains details some of you may find distressing⚠️
THOMAS WILLIAM MARTEL (pictured) is now facing three additional charges totaling nine.
On March 21, 2025, MARTEL appeared in Skokie Circuit Court. Prosecutors announced that MARTEL is now facing nine felony charges, which include five counts of animal torture and four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.
His bond is set at $75,000, and he is due back in court on April 8, 2025.
Court documents obtained by Voice For Us state that on the morning of Monday, July 10, 2023, 22-years-old THOMAS WILLIAM MARTEL (pictured) walked into the 014 District Police Station with his attorney, Brandon E. Brown to turn himself in for incidents related to the death of multiple kittens.
MARTEL, a roofer, is accused of torturing and killing several kittens since May 2023, and replacing every deceased cat with a new one who looked like the previous one, so that his mother would not get suspicious.
The Voiceless Victims were purchased from Craigslist and each new one was named Shelly. All the furvictims were Tabby cats with a distinctive M-shaped marking on their tiny foreheads and stripes on their faces and backs.
The kittens were murdered in various ways, including but not limited to drowning, being placed in a microwave, mutilation with a sharp object, and squeezing. MARTEL murdered the kittens at his home in the 1500 block of North Wicker Park Avenue.
MARTEL’s girlfriend reported him to police after she received a video showing MARTEL throwing a pillowcase into Lake Michigan with a kitten inside.
The girlfriend told police that on May 26, 2023, MARTEL invited her to his home to see his new cats, an adult male named Reggie, and a kitten whom he named Shelly. On June 3, 2023, while under the influence of narcotics, MARTEL drowned the new kitten in a tub of water. He then pulled the unresponsive furbaby out and proceeded to give her CPR by using his thumb to perform chest compressions. The following day, MARTEL said the kitten needed more chest compressions, so he took the furbaby to the bathroom only to come back out to say Shelly was dead.
According to the girlfriend’s statement, MARTEL threw the deceased kitten down his trash chute and then went back on Craigslist and bought another Tabby, whom he named Shelly.
On June 5, 2023, MARTEL told his girlfriend he wanted to teach the new kitten how to swim, so he took the furbaby into the bathroom. A few hours later, MARTEL took from the pantry a bag that had inside what appeared to be a kitten. MARTEL then told his girlfriend the body of the latest kitten was inside the bag before tossing her down the trash chute.
The girlfriend said on June 18, 2023, she went through MARTEL’s phone and found pictures and videos of him torturing the last cat and one of the videos showed the fourth Shelly while she was still alive with the caption “just before I murdered her.”
On June 23, 2023, MARTEL told his girlfriend he had microwaved three kittens and showed her the bag in his pantry. That evening she alerted the authorities.
The girlfriend told police that MARTEL told her he “enjoyed killing cats and he had been like that since he was eight years old.”
Prosecutors have charged this sick and filthy murderer with two felony counts of animal torture and four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.
On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at MARTEL’s bond hearing, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Dale-Schmidt laid out the graphic and horrific details to Cook County Circuit judge Kelly McCarthy. To that, judge McCrthy returned: “We’re seeing a pattern of going back again and again. 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.”
And yet, judge McCarthy released the murderer after posting $75,000 bond. One of the conditions is that MARTER is required to wear an electronic monitor and may not have any contact with animals.
MARTEL is scheduled to appear back in court on Monday, July 17, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.
MARTEL’s attorney told the court that his client was planning to start a new mental health treatment. In his arrestee questionnaire, MARTEL checked “yes” for serious mental health problems and stated, “He takes medication for mental condition.”
As I was reviewing MARTEL’s court documents I noticed that his bond papers were signed by his father. I wonder how it is possible that this filth acted undisturbed while he continued to murder innocent kittens!
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.
MARTEL’s mugshot shared from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office
