ILLINOIS -- A 2-year-old girl was mauled to death early Wednesday by her family's dog, which reportedly had always been protective of children.
Megan Stack was bitten about 6:50 a.m. by the family's black Labrador retriever, Toby, in the kitchen of their home at 4600 S. Harding Ave.
The girl`s father, James, 41, heard Megan screaming and ran downstairs to discover the dog biting the back of the child's head, according to Sgt. George Owen of the Brighton Park Area.
Stack, who works for a Southwest Side steel company, pulled the 75-pound dog from the child and locked it in the basement. Paramedics took the girl to Holy Cross Hospital, where she died at 9:20 a.m. Owen said the girl had been bitten on the right side of the face, her chin and the left side and back of her neck, and had a large cut on her head.
Three other children were in the home when the attack occurred, police said. The children`s mother, Mary, was driving to work to a Southeast Side school where she teaches.
The dog was later taken to the city's Animal Control and Care center, where it will be destroyed in 10 days. Peter Poholik, the center`s executive director, described the dog as "docile, not at all aggressive."
The Stacks got the 5-year-old dog about 8 months ago from friends who were moving and could not take the animal with them. "They never had any trouble with that dog," Poholik said. He described Labradors as excellent pets that are often used as Seeing Eye dogs.
Poholik said that since the dog had bitten someone, the center would destroy it.
Neighbors said Toby was always protective not only of the Stack children but also of other neighborhood youngsters.
(Chicago Tribune - January 21, 1988)
Friday, January 22, 1988
Tuesday, December 29, 1987
Florida: John Lavelle, 26, charged with animal cruelty; accused of abusing his dog repeatedly
FLORIDA -- A man accused of mistreating his dog, including picking up the animal by the tail and throwing him against a wall, has been arrested, police said on Monday.
The man was arrested after two police officers watched from a neighbor's home as he struck the dog, picked him up and slammed him several times on a concrete patio slab, according to the police report.
John Peter Lavelle, 26, of the 2200 block of Northwest 80th Terrace, was charged with cruelty to animals, police said.
He told police he was training the dog, according to the report. The report quoted Lavelle as saying, "How else would you get a dog to listen to you?"
Police also think that Lavelle threw the dog into glass panes on a garage door, the report said.
The dog, a 7-month-old male pointer named Buckeye, was taken to a pet emergency center and is being treated at Broward County Animal Control, officials said.
Buckeye is recuperating from small wounds on his head and neck, pain in the left side of his stomach and possible internal injuries, said Alan Davis, the animal control director.
The dog, who weighs about 30 pounds, is between 10 and 15 pounds underweight and his ribs show, Davis said.
Another dog at Lavelle's home was also taken into protective custody, police said. The dog, a 1-1/2-year-old female pointer, is in good condition and shows no signs of abuse, Davis said.
A witness told police that Lavelle started beating the dog about one month ago and did so two to three times a week because he was frustrated with trying to train the animal.
A neighbor of Lavelle's called police shortly before midnight on Wednesday.
The neighbor, who did not want his name revealed, said he was alerted by the sounds of an animal in pain.
He said he saw Lavelle pick up the dog and hold him by the neck. Then he said he saw the dog picked up by the tail and thrown against the wall.
"The poor thing was in such agony. It was a brutal scene," the neighbor said. "The poor dog was howling, crying, and was making all kinds of noises."
If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, Lavelle faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine, officials said.
Sgt. Sherry Schlueter, supervisor of the Broward Sheriff`s Office Animal Abuse/Agricultural Crimes Unit, said she encourages residents to report animal cruelty.
"Just as with child abuse, it's imperative that people act on behalf of victims who can't act in their own behalf," she said.
(Sun Sentinel - December 29, 1987)
The man was arrested after two police officers watched from a neighbor's home as he struck the dog, picked him up and slammed him several times on a concrete patio slab, according to the police report.
John Peter Lavelle, 26, of the 2200 block of Northwest 80th Terrace, was charged with cruelty to animals, police said.
He told police he was training the dog, according to the report. The report quoted Lavelle as saying, "How else would you get a dog to listen to you?"
Police also think that Lavelle threw the dog into glass panes on a garage door, the report said.
The dog, a 7-month-old male pointer named Buckeye, was taken to a pet emergency center and is being treated at Broward County Animal Control, officials said.
Buckeye is recuperating from small wounds on his head and neck, pain in the left side of his stomach and possible internal injuries, said Alan Davis, the animal control director.
The dog, who weighs about 30 pounds, is between 10 and 15 pounds underweight and his ribs show, Davis said.
Another dog at Lavelle's home was also taken into protective custody, police said. The dog, a 1-1/2-year-old female pointer, is in good condition and shows no signs of abuse, Davis said.
A witness told police that Lavelle started beating the dog about one month ago and did so two to three times a week because he was frustrated with trying to train the animal.
A neighbor of Lavelle's called police shortly before midnight on Wednesday.
The neighbor, who did not want his name revealed, said he was alerted by the sounds of an animal in pain.
He said he saw Lavelle pick up the dog and hold him by the neck. Then he said he saw the dog picked up by the tail and thrown against the wall.
"The poor thing was in such agony. It was a brutal scene," the neighbor said. "The poor dog was howling, crying, and was making all kinds of noises."
If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, Lavelle faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine, officials said.
Sgt. Sherry Schlueter, supervisor of the Broward Sheriff`s Office Animal Abuse/Agricultural Crimes Unit, said she encourages residents to report animal cruelty.
"Just as with child abuse, it's imperative that people act on behalf of victims who can't act in their own behalf," she said.
Saturday, December 5, 1987
Oklahoma: Bill McAnally, his wife Paula McAnally and Johnnie Meders took pleas of no contest on animal cruelty charges after numerous horses dropped dead during endurance races
OKLAHOMA -- Four remaining defendants will stand separate jury trials Feb. 8 on charges stemming from June horse races that killed seven horses, Rogers County authorities said.
The four pleaded not guilty Thursday in Rogers County District Court.
District Judge Steven J. Adams denied motions to combine their trials.
William Schluneger and Billy Coghill of Broken Arrow and Marty Douglas Bates of Claremore each face trial on one count of animal cruelty.
Prosecutors brought two animal-cruelty counts against Jody Trotter of Kiefer.
The charges stem from their alleged roles in June 13 long-distance races near Catoosa in which horses died after competition in hot, humid weather, authorities said.
The race promoter Bill McAnally, his wife Paula McAnally and Johnnie Lee Meders were given fines and deferred sentences after pleading no contest to animal cruelty charges against them earlier this fall.
McAnally dropped a civil lawsuit Tuesday against an endurance ride organization that pulled out of the races before their running.
McAnally dismissed his lawsuit in exchange for the American Endurance Ride Conference's agreement not to sue him, according to court records.
(NewsOK - December 5, 1987)
Earlier:
The four pleaded not guilty Thursday in Rogers County District Court.
District Judge Steven J. Adams denied motions to combine their trials.
William Schluneger and Billy Coghill of Broken Arrow and Marty Douglas Bates of Claremore each face trial on one count of animal cruelty.
Prosecutors brought two animal-cruelty counts against Jody Trotter of Kiefer.
The charges stem from their alleged roles in June 13 long-distance races near Catoosa in which horses died after competition in hot, humid weather, authorities said.
The race promoter Bill McAnally, his wife Paula McAnally and Johnnie Lee Meders were given fines and deferred sentences after pleading no contest to animal cruelty charges against them earlier this fall.
McAnally dropped a civil lawsuit Tuesday against an endurance ride organization that pulled out of the races before their running.
McAnally dismissed his lawsuit in exchange for the American Endurance Ride Conference's agreement not to sue him, according to court records.
(NewsOK - December 5, 1987)
Earlier:
Wednesday, November 11, 1987
Illinois: Pit Bull Attack Linked To Boy's 'Feud' With Family
ILLINOIS -- A 16-year-old Justice boy who allegedly ordered two pit bull terriers to attack a 10-year-old neighbor girl had been "feuding" with the girl`s parents for several years and had been reported to police for harassing the family, police in the southwest suburb said Monday.
The family and the boy "have had persistent problems," Justice Police Cpl. Steven Kooper said. "They were feuding. They had been fighting for some time."
The family and the boy's family live across 79th Avenue from each other, and the Sunday afternoon dog attack occurred about 50 yards from their two homes, police said.
Kooper testified at a hearing Monday in Cook County Juvenile Court that the boy had denied ordering the dogs to attack, saying the dogs got loose accidentally while he was walking them. The dogs belonged to friends of the boy`s family, police said.
The girl, Brandy Hopper, underwent 2-1/2 hours of surgery Sunday night at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn to repair damage from the mauling. She was listed in good condition Monday, hospital officials said.
The dogs chewed out a 3-by-6-inch section of the girl's left thigh, the girl's parents and police said, and left deep bite marks in her right thigh.
A plastic surgeon sewed some of the torn flesh on the girl's left thigh back into place, the girl's mother, Sandra Merkle, said. But Merkle said her daughter may need skin grafts.
"It was such a big rip. It's like the shape of that dog's jaw," she said.
Justice police said Monday that they have responded to frequent complaints that the boy had harassed the family and threatened Brandy`s siblings.
Merkle said the boy's actions were unprovoked. "He's just a neighborhood punk," she said. "He does it all over town. His parents know we've been fighting."
At the Monday court appearance, testimony showed that the boy has an extensive criminal record for theft, burglary and criminal damage to property dating back to age 11.
Also in court, Kooper said Justice police have documented problems between the boy and the family for at least five years.
The boy was charged Sunday with aggravated battery for allegedly ordering the dogs to attack Brandy. Police said witnesses, including Merkle, heard the boy shout "sic her" to the dogs and saw him drop the two leashes on which he was holding the animals when he saw Brandy approaching.
Brandy was returning home with groceries she had bought at a neighborhood store, said her stepfather, Rusty Merkle.
Associate Judge Charles Barish ordered the boy held in the Juvenile Detention Center at least until Friday, when he is to appear with a lawyer. State`s attorneys argued that the boy should be held because of the brutality of the attack.
The owners of the dogs, Jerry and Kimberly Roth, of Bridgeview, have been charged with obstruction of justice, a misdemeanor, for allegedly disobeying police orders by taking the dogs into their house after the attack and allowing the boy to hide there, Kooper said.
Kooper said the Roths told police that they had given the boy, a family friend, permission to walk the dogs Sunday afternoon. The Roths live about three blocks from where the attack occurred.
Relatives of the Roths said Monday that the couple was declining to comment about the incident.
The dogs are being held at the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge. Allen Glisch, the manager there, said the dogs were being watched for signs of rabies.
(Chicago Tribune - November 10, 1987)
The family and the boy "have had persistent problems," Justice Police Cpl. Steven Kooper said. "They were feuding. They had been fighting for some time."
The family and the boy's family live across 79th Avenue from each other, and the Sunday afternoon dog attack occurred about 50 yards from their two homes, police said.
Kooper testified at a hearing Monday in Cook County Juvenile Court that the boy had denied ordering the dogs to attack, saying the dogs got loose accidentally while he was walking them. The dogs belonged to friends of the boy`s family, police said.
The girl, Brandy Hopper, underwent 2-1/2 hours of surgery Sunday night at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn to repair damage from the mauling. She was listed in good condition Monday, hospital officials said.
The dogs chewed out a 3-by-6-inch section of the girl's left thigh, the girl's parents and police said, and left deep bite marks in her right thigh.
A plastic surgeon sewed some of the torn flesh on the girl's left thigh back into place, the girl's mother, Sandra Merkle, said. But Merkle said her daughter may need skin grafts.
"It was such a big rip. It's like the shape of that dog's jaw," she said.
Justice police said Monday that they have responded to frequent complaints that the boy had harassed the family and threatened Brandy`s siblings.
Merkle said the boy's actions were unprovoked. "He's just a neighborhood punk," she said. "He does it all over town. His parents know we've been fighting."
At the Monday court appearance, testimony showed that the boy has an extensive criminal record for theft, burglary and criminal damage to property dating back to age 11.
Also in court, Kooper said Justice police have documented problems between the boy and the family for at least five years.
The boy was charged Sunday with aggravated battery for allegedly ordering the dogs to attack Brandy. Police said witnesses, including Merkle, heard the boy shout "sic her" to the dogs and saw him drop the two leashes on which he was holding the animals when he saw Brandy approaching.
Brandy was returning home with groceries she had bought at a neighborhood store, said her stepfather, Rusty Merkle.
Associate Judge Charles Barish ordered the boy held in the Juvenile Detention Center at least until Friday, when he is to appear with a lawyer. State`s attorneys argued that the boy should be held because of the brutality of the attack.
The owners of the dogs, Jerry and Kimberly Roth, of Bridgeview, have been charged with obstruction of justice, a misdemeanor, for allegedly disobeying police orders by taking the dogs into their house after the attack and allowing the boy to hide there, Kooper said.
Kooper said the Roths told police that they had given the boy, a family friend, permission to walk the dogs Sunday afternoon. The Roths live about three blocks from where the attack occurred.
Relatives of the Roths said Monday that the couple was declining to comment about the incident.
The dogs are being held at the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge. Allen Glisch, the manager there, said the dogs were being watched for signs of rabies.
(Chicago Tribune - November 10, 1987)
Tuesday, October 13, 1987
Ohio: Woman says Dr. William G. Eckman was visiting prostitute Joetta Darmstadter when he was mauled to death by her two Pit Bulls
OHIO -- A woman who found the wallet of a man mauled to death by two pit bull dogs testified Monday that it contained the telephone number of a prostitute he was visiting the day he died.
The admitted prostitute, Joetta Darmstadter (aka Joetta Barrios), 32, and her housemate and the dogs' co-owner, Wilbur Rutledge, 34, are on trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Dr. William G. Eckman, 67.
Prosecutors were expected to wrap up their case late Monday or early Tuesday. They have been barred by Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert M. Brown from presenting animal behavior experts who tested the dogs after the attack and found them to be vicious.
Brown also has prohibited prosecutors and defense lawyers from talking about the trial.
LaDonna Donovan testified that Eckman, of suburban Kettering, had moved in with her and her three children. She said she found his wallet in the trunk of his car about a month after the April 6 attack.
Tucked behind the lining was a piece of paper with ''Joe 275-6555'' written on it, she said. There was no money in the wallet, she said, although bank records show Eckman had withdrawn $25 shortly before the attack.
Ms. Donovan said she called the number. ''I asked if Joetta was there and the lady that answered the phone said, 'This is Joetta.' And then I hung up,'' she said.
Prosecutors are trying to show that Ms. Darmstadter and Rutledge knew the dogs were vicious before the attack and that Eckman was a regular customer of Ms. Darmstadter's and was in the house for sex when he was attacked.
Defense lawyers claim Eckman was told by Ms. Darmstadter to go away but slipped into the house and was attacked when he opened the door to a bedroom where the dogs had gone.
Ms. Donovan is the sole beneficiary of an estate she said was worth about $20,000 left by Eckman, a retired chief of staff at St. Elizabeth Medical Center and chief of surgery at the Dayton Veterans Administration Hospital.
She said she knew Eckman saw a psychiatrist and that before he lived with her he provided $13,000 over six weeks to a prostitute. Defense lawyer Daniel O'Brien said Eckman had given $500,000 to a prostitute before that.
Prosecutors have presented evidence that Eckman often withdrew from $25 to $100 from his bank account, although Ms. Donovan said she rarely saw him spend much money.
(AP - Oct 12, 1987)
Earlier:
The admitted prostitute, Joetta Darmstadter (aka Joetta Barrios), 32, and her housemate and the dogs' co-owner, Wilbur Rutledge, 34, are on trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Dr. William G. Eckman, 67.
Prosecutors were expected to wrap up their case late Monday or early Tuesday. They have been barred by Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert M. Brown from presenting animal behavior experts who tested the dogs after the attack and found them to be vicious.
LaDonna Donovan testified that Eckman, of suburban Kettering, had moved in with her and her three children. She said she found his wallet in the trunk of his car about a month after the April 6 attack.
Tucked behind the lining was a piece of paper with ''Joe 275-6555'' written on it, she said. There was no money in the wallet, she said, although bank records show Eckman had withdrawn $25 shortly before the attack.
Ms. Donovan said she called the number. ''I asked if Joetta was there and the lady that answered the phone said, 'This is Joetta.' And then I hung up,'' she said.
Prosecutors are trying to show that Ms. Darmstadter and Rutledge knew the dogs were vicious before the attack and that Eckman was a regular customer of Ms. Darmstadter's and was in the house for sex when he was attacked.
Defense lawyers claim Eckman was told by Ms. Darmstadter to go away but slipped into the house and was attacked when he opened the door to a bedroom where the dogs had gone.
Ms. Donovan is the sole beneficiary of an estate she said was worth about $20,000 left by Eckman, a retired chief of staff at St. Elizabeth Medical Center and chief of surgery at the Dayton Veterans Administration Hospital.
She said she knew Eckman saw a psychiatrist and that before he lived with her he provided $13,000 over six weeks to a prostitute. Defense lawyer Daniel O'Brien said Eckman had given $500,000 to a prostitute before that.
Prosecutors have presented evidence that Eckman often withdrew from $25 to $100 from his bank account, although Ms. Donovan said she rarely saw him spend much money.
From the book "Pit Bull: The Battle over
an American Icon" by Bronwen Dickey
(AP - Oct 12, 1987)
Earlier:
Tuesday, October 6, 1987
Florida: Vikki Kittles making a joke out of her animal cruelty criminal case, demanding new judge and public defender.
FLORIDA -- Vikki Rene Kittles, who faces assault and animal abuse charges, on Monday persuaded Broward County Court Judge Leonard Stafford to remove himself from the abuse case and to appoint a new lawyer.
Vikki Rene Kittles (also known as Susan Dietrich, Rene Depenbrock, and Lynn Zellan), 40, told Stafford during a hearing on the misdemeanor animal abuse charges that she had problems being represented by the Public Defender`s Office, and said, "I`m having a problem with you as well."
She also filed several motions on her own behalf, one seeking a written explanation why she needed a psychological evaluation, and others asserting her rights to counsel and to being present at all hearings.
Kittles was arrested in May 1985 on charges of keeping two horses, three cats and 37 dogs in her Wilton Manors home. She also faces the assault felony charge for threatening a neighbor with a gun, police said.
Stafford said he had planned to consolidate the charges so Kittles would be represented by one lawyer in one courtroom.
But after hearing her concerns, Stafford appointed Bernard Canarick, a Plantation lawyer, to represent Kittles on the misdemeanor charges.
The felony charge, scheduled before Circuit Judge Russell Seay, will be heard separately.
Stafford also removed himself from the abuse case, saying that "everybody is entitled to one change." A different County Court judge will hear the case.
Meanwhile, Broward Sheriff`s Detective Sandy Wise said the office continued to search for Kittles` mother, Jean Sullivan, who is in her 70s.
Wise said authorities do not know what happened to Sullivan because she left Broward County in 1985 when Kittles fled after being arrested on the charges of keeping the animals in her home. Kittles never showed up for a court hearing on those charges.
Broward deputies launched a search after a missing persons report was filed on Sept. 19 by a private investigator hired by Sullivan`s daughter-in-law.
Kittles was arrested on Sept. 4 by Manatee County sheriff`s deputies on a warrant issued by Broward authorities. She was living in a van in Ellenton, a small town near Bradenton, with about 40 cats and dogs. Sullivan was not with her.
Law enforcement officials are concerned because Kittles` neighbors in Manatee County reported seeing an elderly woman at Kittles` home in February, Wise said.
Kittles "wouldn`t say anything about her mother," Wise said.
(Sun Sentinel - October 6, 1987)
Vikki Rene Kittles (also known as Susan Dietrich, Rene Depenbrock, and Lynn Zellan), 40, told Stafford during a hearing on the misdemeanor animal abuse charges that she had problems being represented by the Public Defender`s Office, and said, "I`m having a problem with you as well."
She also filed several motions on her own behalf, one seeking a written explanation why she needed a psychological evaluation, and others asserting her rights to counsel and to being present at all hearings.
Kittles was arrested in May 1985 on charges of keeping two horses, three cats and 37 dogs in her Wilton Manors home. She also faces the assault felony charge for threatening a neighbor with a gun, police said.
Stafford said he had planned to consolidate the charges so Kittles would be represented by one lawyer in one courtroom.
But after hearing her concerns, Stafford appointed Bernard Canarick, a Plantation lawyer, to represent Kittles on the misdemeanor charges.
The felony charge, scheduled before Circuit Judge Russell Seay, will be heard separately.
Stafford also removed himself from the abuse case, saying that "everybody is entitled to one change." A different County Court judge will hear the case.
Meanwhile, Broward Sheriff`s Detective Sandy Wise said the office continued to search for Kittles` mother, Jean Sullivan, who is in her 70s.
Wise said authorities do not know what happened to Sullivan because she left Broward County in 1985 when Kittles fled after being arrested on the charges of keeping the animals in her home. Kittles never showed up for a court hearing on those charges.
Broward deputies launched a search after a missing persons report was filed on Sept. 19 by a private investigator hired by Sullivan`s daughter-in-law.
Kittles was arrested on Sept. 4 by Manatee County sheriff`s deputies on a warrant issued by Broward authorities. She was living in a van in Ellenton, a small town near Bradenton, with about 40 cats and dogs. Sullivan was not with her.
Law enforcement officials are concerned because Kittles` neighbors in Manatee County reported seeing an elderly woman at Kittles` home in February, Wise said.
Kittles "wouldn`t say anything about her mother," Wise said.
(Sun Sentinel - October 6, 1987)
Monday, September 7, 1987
Florida: Broward Fugitive Vikki Kittles Found In Animal-filled Van
FLORIDA -- Vikki Kittles, who disappeared months after being arrested in 1985 for having 42 animals in her Wilton Manors home, is in jail in Manatee County, officials said.
Vikki Rene Kittles (also known as Susan Dietrich, Rene Depenbrock, and Lynn Zellan), 40, was arrested on Friday night in Ellenton, a small town near Bradenton, where she had been living in "an extremely dilapidated junk van" with 35 to 40 cats and dogs, the Manatee County Sheriff`s Office said.
"Miss Kittles has lived in these conditions along with her elderly mother for quite a long time in order to prevent her discovery and arrest," Deputy Tom Shanafelt wrote in a report to a judge in Manatee County.
Jean Sullivan, Kittles' mother, who had left Wilton Manors with Kittles, still has not been found, deputies said. Her disappearance is under investigation.
"Miss Kittles' elderly mother has not been located, and Miss Kittles will not make any statements as to her whereabouts and/or well-being," Shanafelt wrote.
On Sunday, Kittles was being held in the Manatee County Jail without bond. She was arrested on outstanding warrants from Broward County of aggravated assault, improper exhibition of a dangerous weapon and battery, deputies said.
Manatee County officials said on Sunday that they had not received word from Broward County on when Kittles is to be transferred to Broward.
Detectives found Kittles about 11 p.m. Friday with help from a private investigator that Kittles' sister-in-law, Carol Kittles, hired.
Carol Kittles of Kendall was married to Vikki's brother, Rex, who died in March. She said she used money from a life insurance policy to hire the investigator to find her mother-in-law.
"My husband and I had wanted to (hire one) earlier, but were unable to. I decided to use the money to find his mother, since that was what he had wanted," she said.
Police have been looking for Vikki Kittles since late 1985, after she was arrested for failing to appear in court that September on a charge of animal cruelty. She arrived three hours late for her trial, minutes after Broward County Judge Irwin Berkowitz issued an arrest order for her.
She was then jailed on $2,000 bond. She also had failed to show up for her original trial date, Aug. 6.
Kittles was arrested on May 18, 1985, at her Wilton Manors home, where she had kept two horses, three cats and 37 dogs. Kittles also is accused of threatening a neighbor with a gun.
(Sun Sentinel - September 7, 1987)
Vikki Rene Kittles (also known as Susan Dietrich, Rene Depenbrock, and Lynn Zellan), 40, was arrested on Friday night in Ellenton, a small town near Bradenton, where she had been living in "an extremely dilapidated junk van" with 35 to 40 cats and dogs, the Manatee County Sheriff`s Office said.
"Miss Kittles has lived in these conditions along with her elderly mother for quite a long time in order to prevent her discovery and arrest," Deputy Tom Shanafelt wrote in a report to a judge in Manatee County.
Jean Sullivan, Kittles' mother, who had left Wilton Manors with Kittles, still has not been found, deputies said. Her disappearance is under investigation.
"Miss Kittles' elderly mother has not been located, and Miss Kittles will not make any statements as to her whereabouts and/or well-being," Shanafelt wrote.
On Sunday, Kittles was being held in the Manatee County Jail without bond. She was arrested on outstanding warrants from Broward County of aggravated assault, improper exhibition of a dangerous weapon and battery, deputies said.
Manatee County officials said on Sunday that they had not received word from Broward County on when Kittles is to be transferred to Broward.
Detectives found Kittles about 11 p.m. Friday with help from a private investigator that Kittles' sister-in-law, Carol Kittles, hired.
Carol Kittles of Kendall was married to Vikki's brother, Rex, who died in March. She said she used money from a life insurance policy to hire the investigator to find her mother-in-law.
"My husband and I had wanted to (hire one) earlier, but were unable to. I decided to use the money to find his mother, since that was what he had wanted," she said.
Police have been looking for Vikki Kittles since late 1985, after she was arrested for failing to appear in court that September on a charge of animal cruelty. She arrived three hours late for her trial, minutes after Broward County Judge Irwin Berkowitz issued an arrest order for her.
She was then jailed on $2,000 bond. She also had failed to show up for her original trial date, Aug. 6.
Kittles was arrested on May 18, 1985, at her Wilton Manors home, where she had kept two horses, three cats and 37 dogs. Kittles also is accused of threatening a neighbor with a gun.
(Sun Sentinel - September 7, 1987)
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