Judge bans her from owning companion animal for life
WHEATON – DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced today that Kelly Palermo, 51, (d.o.b. 9/15/1964) of 5932 N. Ozanam, Chicago, has been sentenced to ninety days in the DuPage County Jail for her role in the stabbing death of a family cat, Zeppelin . On July 26, 2016, Palermo entered a blind plea of guilty to one one count of Aggravated Animal Cruelty, a Class 4 Felony. Her daughter, Samantha Palermo, 22 (d.o.b. 11/25/1993) of 945 S. Euclid, Elmhurst, was also charged in the incident and faces the same charge.
It is alleged that on June 10, 2015, at approximately 8:50 p.m., while at her daughter’s home, Kelly Palermo became angry with the family cat. It is alleged that Kelly Palermo picked up the cat and while she held it, Samantha Palermo stabbed the cat several times. It is further alleged that following the stabbing, Kelly Palermo’s 14 year-old son got the cat away from his mother and called 911. It is further alleged that Kelly Palermo took the cat back from her son and held the cat down while Samantha again stabbed it several times eventually killing it. Both mother and daughter were taken into custody that evening at Kelly Palermo’s home without incident.
“This morning, Kelly Palermo learned that for this heinous act of cruelty, she will spend three months of her life behind bars,” Berlin said. “While Ms. Palermo took responsibility for her involvement in the death of a family pet, there is nothing that can be done to bring Zeppelin back. I would like to thank the Elmhurst Police Department for their work on this case as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Kristin Johnston and Dave Friedland for their efforts on this very disturbing case.”
In addition to her jail sentence, Palermo was also banned for life from owning, or living with someone who owns, a companion animal. She was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine plus court costs.
Samantha Palermo’s next court appearance is scheduled for November 17, 2016, in front of Judge Robert Miller.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint against Samantha Palermo contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
