Man Who Killed 6 Kittens Is A Former Northbrook Resident: Police

CHICAGO — A Chicago man with ties to Northbrook and Elmhurst is charged in connection with the deaths of at least six kittens, according to reports.

Thomas Martel, 22, faces charges of four counts of aggravated animal cruelty and two counts of animal torture, police said. All six counts are felonies. Multiple outlets reported Martel lived and killed the kittens in Wicker Park, but police listed his address as being in Northbrook.

The kittens, all of whom were named Shelly, died by drowning, squeezing and mutilation, according to FOX 32. Martel killed three of them in the microwave, CWBChicago reported.

Martel, who has no criminal record, would kill a kitten and then use Craiglist to find another so his mother wouldn’t be suspicious, according to CWB, which reported Martel told his girlfriend that he had enjoyed killing cats since he was a young child.

In one instance, the girlfriend told Martel to stop and he threw her out before immediately requesting money from her for another kitten, CWB reported, adding she eventually contacted police, who found a bag of kitten body parts in the home.

Martel works at the Elmhurst-based roofing company S&D Enterprises Inc., according to screenshots shared on social media of his LinkedIn page, which appears to have been taken down. He was booked into Cook County jail Tuesday and is next due in court Monday, according to jail records.

Martel has mental health issues, FOX 32 reported. He turned himself in Monday and is set to start a new treatment program Wednesday, according to CWB, which reported his bail was set Tuesday at a $7,500 deposit for release with electronic monitoring and no contact with animals.