Illinois: Edward Hanania charged with animal cruelty for throwing elderly man's toy poodles from parking tower, killing one

ILLINOIS -- An Illinois man is facing two felony counts of animal cruelty after police say he threw two toy poodles from the top floor of a parking tower at Advocate Christ Hospital in south suburban Oak Lawn over the weekend.

Officers responded just after 12:05 p.m. on May 20 to a report of two injured dogs between Towers B and C near West 93rd Street and South Kilbourn Avenue. The dogs were described as white toy poodles.

Investigators believe 22-year-old Edward Hanania falsely claimed to be the owner of two toy poodles on a lost and found section of an area Facebook page. The Good Samaritan believed him and gave him the two little dogs.

Hanania is said to have taken the two little poodles to the hospital parking garage, gone up to the 5th floor level and then thrown them over the side. 

One of the dogs, 12-pound Angel is just over a year old, survived the five-story fall. Angel's father, 6-year-old Garo, was also thrown from the five-story structure but died. It's believed Angel survived because he landed on the grass while Garo hit the concrete.

The dogs' real owner is described as an older man who is now heartbroken over what happened to them after they escaped from his home near 55th and Troy. They were picked up by a Good Samaritan, and their pictures were posted to the local Facebook page.

Investigators say Hannania falsely claimed them as his only to have real owner show up a short time later with documentation.

The dogs' actual owner was overcome with emotion when he came in to claim his surviving dog.

"I had an elderly gentleman crying so hard and praying over the dead body and over Angel, and Angel's been crying for him now," said Linda Estrada, Chicago Ridge Animal Welfare League.

"He's a big elderly man, and just crying his eyes out. He said 'These are my babies. Why would someone want to hurt my babies?'" Estrada said.

Angel had to have a pin put in his leg in two places. He's also scheduled for surgery Tuesday morning.

"His leg is broke, he's got hip pins, two pins in it, and his ribs are real sore," said Linda Estrada, Animal Welfare League. "It's a good five-story fall. It's unbelievable."

Hanania has a criminal record and is expected to appear in bond court Tuesday. Police are also looking into witness accounts that he was seen at an Oak Lawn Target with a black dog whose whereabouts are unknown.

"I can't imagine why somebody would do it," said Division Chief Randy Palmer, Oak Lawn police. "I don't know if this individual went there with that specific intent of doing and at some point that did entire his mind, and carry out the act."

"I would just like to say to him why? Just why?" Estrada said.

 

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(FOX 6 Milwaukee - May 23, 2017)