top of page

ALL POSTS

Search

TWYLA EARLENE KITSOS and DEWEY EUGENE FORD facing charges in connection with the death of a dog

Updated: May 20, 2023

- Illinois, USA -


On the morning of Tuesday, January 24, 2023, Macon County Animal Control responded to Sawyer Road south of Illiniwick in Decatur after receiving a call about a deceased dog.


Officers found a puppy inside a cage in the ditch near the road. The Macon County Sheriff's Office said the dog appeared to be emaciated.


At the time, the sheriff’s office said that the dog’s guardian had not been identified. An investigation was launched, the sheriff’s office then reached out to the community and PETA offered $5,000 for information.


On March 8, 2023, in connection with this case, deputies arrested 33-years-old TWYLA EARLENE KITSOS (pictured) “for failure of owner’s duties.”

In a press release, Sgt. Ron Atkins, Animal Control Administrator for the Sheriff’s Office said: “Assistance from the public was crucial and made the investigation into this incident a success.”


I have asked Sgt. Atkins for additional information about the Voiceless Victim and in an email, he said: “The dog was Presa Canario according to Kitsos but I've been unable to confirm that. The dog was a male, estimated age at death was 3 to 5 months.”


As the investigation into the case continued, deputies made a second arrest.


Through a press release of May 18, 2023, Sgt. Atkins announced that on April 26, 2023, testimony was provided to a Macon County Grand Jury in regards to this case. The Grand Jury returned an indictment against 58-years-old DEWEY EUGENE FORD (also pictured) for Obstructing Justice, a Class 4 Felony. FORD was arrested the following day and booked into the Macon County Jail. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond, and on April 28, 2023, at his initial court appearance he pleaded not guilty.

Court records show FORD is set to appear back in court on May 26, 2023.


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.



KITSOS and FORD’s mugshots provided to Voice For Us by the Macon County Sheriff's Office.


Furbaby's pictures shared from WCCU – January 25, 2023


Additional Sources:









 
 
 

TIMOTHY LEE SMITH arrested for harming his dog and threatening his family with a knife

- Illinois, USA -


On the early morning of Wednesday, February 15, 2023, officers with the Macomb Police Department responded to a report of a domestic violence at residence in the 1200 block of E. Carroll Street in Macomb.


In a press release, police said that “family members fled the house after they believed their dog was harmed by” 39-years-old TIMOTHY LEE SMITH (pictured), the father and the husband of the family.


Officers learned that SMITH “had been harming the family dog, threatening the family members with a knife, and, at one point, grabbed and pushed family members around the house.”

As indicated in the press release, SMITH allegedly “kept the family members under his control and restrained their movements, for several hours.”


After police surrounded the house, SMITH was eventually coaxed from the house and placed under arrest.


SMITH was booked into the McDonough County Jail on one count of cruel treatment to animal, two counts of unlawful restraint, two counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of domestic battery.


Online records show that SMITH is scheduled to appear in McDonough County Circuit Court for his preliminary hearing on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.


Police said that the dog and SMITH’s family are currently in a safe location.


The investigation is ongoing and no further details were released.


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

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



Additional Source:




ree


 
 
 

NYSSA RICHARDS and MARK MILLER JR. cited for animal cruelty – One dog was euthanized

- Illinois, USA -


The Macon County Sheriff’s Office said that 39-years-old NYSSA RICHARDS and 42-years-old MARK MILLER JR. are facing animal cruelty charges after several dogs were left out in the extreme cold, causing the death of one of the furbabies.


On Friday, December 23, 2022, when the base temperature was 1 degree with a wind chill of minus 16, deputies responded to an address in the 4300 block of North Taylor Road in Decatur after a concerned citizen called to report that many dogs at the property were suffering from extreme cold.


Deputies found five dogs chained and in “rough shape.” The VOICELESS VICTIMS did not have any food, their water was frozen, and only had plywood dog houses with a bit of straw for shelter.

Among them was an 11-year-old male American Bulldog, named Blue, who was near death. The video recorded by the Good Samaritan who alerted the sheriff’s office, showed Blue tethered to a chain, dragging his legs, and struggling to get up.

Sadly, Blue had to be euthanized at the University of Illinois Veterinary Clinic in Urbana.

Macon County Animal Control took custody of the other four dogs and they thankfully are making a good recovery.


WCIA reports that it all started on Friday when a resident was driving home and she noticed the dogs. In an interview with WCIA, the resident recounted the distressing facts. She said: “So I opened my car door and I yelled from about halfway across the driveway, ‘your dog is dying’.” The witness went on to say: “She [Nyssa Richards] opened up the door and she started yelling for me to get off her property, yelling profanities.”

The witness saw that Blue was stumbling and shivering until he couldn’t get back up. She then called the Macon County Sheriff's Office.


Rightfully and understandably so, several members of the community are speaking up about the way they say RICHARDS and MILLER treated their dogs.

Ms. Jessica Oftedal told WCIA: “Anybody that I’ve talked to about the dogs that’s driven by, they’re like ‘oh yeah, I live there, I have to see it all the time. They never leave those chains.’”


The sheriff’s office said that in the state of Illinois animal cruelty and neglect is a Class A misdemeanor and aggravating factors could result in a Class 4 felony.

State’s Attorney Scott Rueter explained: “There are certain enhancing factors that may make things felonies where they would normally be misdemeanors to file initially. So, we have to review all that and make a decision about what charges we believe are appropriate under the law.” He also said that it could be a few days before charges are filed.


According to a press release by the Sheriff’s Office obtained by Voice For Us, RICHARDS and MILLER were given notices to appear for a court date of March 14, 2023.

If found not guilty, the dogs may be returned to them.


Pictures of the four dogs who were removed from the property were kindly provided to Voice For Us by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office.


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.




Additional Sources:




 
 
 

Subscribe Form

© 2025 Voice For Us

Privacy Policy

FAQ

bottom of page