Diane Eldrup, 43, is charged with multiple counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and animal torture after the bodies of 30 dogs, three birds and an opossum were found on the property of the former Muddy Paws Dog Rescue.
Police who went to the property Dec. 17 found the dead animals, most of which are believed to have starved, in filth-encrusted cages stacked in the shelter and in the attached residence.
The property on the 20000 block of North Rand Road was foreclosed shortly after Eldrup's arrest, and health officials declared it uninhabitable because of the contamination caused by tons of animal feces.
Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Michael Mermel, who described the shelter as a "death camp" not long after Eldrup's arrest, said the destruction of the building on the property poses no threat to Eldrup's ongoing prosecution.
"We released the property as a crime scene a couple of months ago," Mermel said. "We are confident we have gathered everything of evidentiary value needed to sustain the charges against the defendant."
Mermel said groups of volunteers had been combing the property since its release as a crime scene and had discovered additional animal carcasses.
"Unfortunately, none of the more recent discoveries could be used as a foundation for additional charges because of the state of decomposition of the animals," he said. "While we appreciate the good work of those people, with the destruction and clearing of the property they will no longer be exposed to the psychological and emotional trauma I am sure each new discovery provoked."
M. Rizzi & Son Excavating & Wrecking from Bensenville is demolishing the building, and a foreman on the scene Thursday said it could take up to two days to haul away all the debris.
Work at the site was deliberate and slow as workers pulled out scraps of metal that cannot be dumped into landfills.
Mario Rizzi was overseeing the project, while his son Pete Rizzi operated a backhoe and pulled furniture, refrigerator, clothing and tons of garbage out of the wrecked structures.
Mario Rizzi visited the site when the weather was cold and recalled floors cluttered with trash, dog food cans and children's toys.
"I first went in the building, it was terrible," he said. "The smell wasn't bad since it was still winter."
Such was not the case Thursday, as temperatures climbed toward the 80s and foul odors wafted toward motorists driving slowly on Rand Road while taking a peek at the shelter's demise.
Eldrup, who has pleaded not guilty, is free on bond and expected to appear in court June 7. Mermel and her attorney John Curnyn of Evanston are scheduled to meet privately with Circuit Judge James Booras to discuss a negotiated resolution of the case.
Eldrup faces up to five years in prison if convicted of animal torture and up to three years for aggravated cruelty to animals, but both crimes also provide for probationary sentences
(Daily herald - May 13, 2011)
Earlier:
- Illinois: 18 dead dogs found at Deer Park rescue called Muddy Paws; owner Diane Eldrup arrested
- Illinois: Most of the 17 dead dogs found at Muddy Paws Dog Rescue were found inside living area of house, says attorney
- Illinois: Diane Eldrup, owner of Muddy Paws Dog Rescue, faces 32 counts of animal cruelty
- Illinois: Investigators searching for more dead animals at Diane Eldrup's Muddy Paws Dog Rescue facility
- Illinois: What Diane Eldrup's husband Kurt Eldrup saw inside Muddy Paws Dog Rescue concentration camp
- Illinois: Editorial "Many failures led to animals being abused and killed at Diane Eldrup's Muddy Paws Dog Rescue"
- Illinois: Diane Eldrup and Muddy Paws Dog Rescue mess dates back to 2009
- Illinois: Diane Eldrup, 48, denies newest charges in animal abuse case
- Illinois: Veterinarian Dr. Debra Rykoff and John Breseman who run Fur Keeps Animal Rescue posted Diane Eldrup's $25,000 bond - now they're complaining that people are mad at them
