Illinois: Another Dead Dog Linked To Man, Fabian Perez, Who Said Rescue Pit bull Was Stolen

ILLINOIS -- A Belmont Cragin man charged with brutally beating and killing his girlfriend’s dog was also one of the last people to see a 60-pound rescue dog alive before telling police it was stolen and killed in April.

On April 22, Fabian Perez, 30, attacked his girlfriend’s dog, leaving the dog's dead body on the floor for her to find, prosecutors said. The pup had been kicked multiple times and thrown down a flight of stairs.

Though Perez initially denied killing the medium-size mixed-breed dog, he later apologized to his girlfriend via text, Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said during a bond hearing Tuesday.

On March 6, Perez told police he was robbed of a rescue dog named Tyler while transporting the dog between an adoption family’s home and the home Natalie Sopart, co-founder of Furever Rescue, the organization that had been working to find Tyler a home.

According to a police report, Sopart told officers the men who stole Tyler said, "Welcome to Chicago, bitch," before taking the pup. The men allegedly took Tyler and fled. A day later, the dog was found dead.

Court documents list Sopart as the owner of the dog prosecutors say Perez beat to death on April 22. She was not immediately available for comment Wednesday.

On April 22, Perez went to visit Sopart at her home in the 3700 block of South Damen Avenue in McKinley Park, and became angry when she wasn't there, according to court documents.

The home was "secured but unlocked," according to Scaduto, and Perez left himself in.

That's when he kicked the dog multiple times before throwing her down a flight of 15 stairs, Scaduto said. Perez then left Sopart's house, locking the door behind him, Scaduto said.

When Sopart arrived home, she found her dead dog and several blood spatters. The dog died of blunt force trauma, authorities said.

Sopart immediately confronted Perez, who denied the attack, according to court documents. When she confronted him again on the phone May 2, Perez confessed to killing the dog and later texted an apology.

When police searched Perez's house last week, they found another dog that appeared to be injured and couldn't walk on its left leg, according to an arrest report. Animal Care and Control took the dog.

Perez's defense attorney in court Tuesday said Perez had veterinary bills that could prove he hadn't abused that dog.

Perez, of the 2300 block of North Latrobe Avenue, is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and animal cruelty.

He has prior convictions for retail theft, battery, criminal damage to property and driving on a suspended or revoked license, prosecutors said. In 2014, he was charged with theft of labor/services, aggravated battery and resisting arrest after running up a cab fare, refusing to pay the bill and threatening the cab driver in Bolingbrook, police told Patch.

According to his defense attorney, Perez is a college graduate who works full time. Court records list Perez as a construction worker.

Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. on Tuesday ordered Perez held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

(DNA Info - May 11, 2016)

Name: Fabian Perez
DOB: 10/12/1985
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Male
Height: 5'08"
Weight: 180 lbs
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Age at arrest: 30
Date of arrest: 05/10/2016
Arresting agency: Cook County IL
Charge:

• AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (STATUTE: 510 ILCS 70/3.02)

2016 UPDATE TO CASE:

The following details are provided for the convenience of trained Court Advocates, who are authorized to act as Court Advocates through Safe Humane Chicago.

The information contained here is from initial arrest summaries, court proceedings, court advocate reports, and other sources.

AUGUST 3, 2016 (Wednesday)
**COURT: 2600 S California, Rm307 (Judge Boyle), 9:30am
  —-PEREZ, Fabian DOB 101085 (16CR0843801/16DV7562401, HZ251018): status on reports
    charges(2): 1x residential burglary 720ILCS5/19-3(a)
                1x cruel treatment (510ILCS70.0/3.01)
    arrest: Beat 1024, 33xx W Ogden, 09May16
    arresting officer: CPD ACT, Unit 6559G
    animals(2): 1 dog deceased, 1 dog impounded & transferred
    history: 10May16, 11May, 16May, 01Jun transferred to criminal court, 03Jun, 24Jun,
             24Jun, 30Jun, 13Jul
    note: had criminal trespassing case (16600199301) SOL’d 31May16
    note: 23Jun16 charged with Domestic Battery in DuPage Cnty (2016DV000755)
    note: 11May16 released on $50k D-bond with special conditions;
          emergency order of protection (OP); 16May OP expired; 30Jun petition for VOBB
          filed; 13Jul order of protection served, $200k D-bond
    note: Special Prosecutor Mary Innes

PREVIOUS ARREST:

Date of arrest: 07/05/2014
Name: Fabian Perez
Total Bond: $10,000
Arresting agency: Cook County Sheriff IL
Charge:

• DOMESTIC BATTERY/BODILY HARM