Animal Rescue Group: Man Charged with Arizona Murder Neglected Dog 4 Years Ago

Long before former Island Lake resident David Walker was charged with first-degree murder of Adam Moring, he found himself in trouble for nearly starving his dog, according to Animal Education and Rescue in Libertyville.

Arizona police say Walker, 29, flew from Chicago to Phoenix, where on Oct. 11 he entered the home occupied by his ex-wife and Moring, 29, formerly of Cary. Walker beat Moring with a baseball bat while he slept in bed next to his ex-wife, police reported.

Moring's funeral is scheduled for 3 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 419 E. Route 176, in Crystal Lake. Click here for more information about Moring's funeral in this Patch article.

Lake County animal rescue workers were saddened by this news, but not surprised.

Sandy Wisniewski, of Animal Education and Rescue (AEAR), said the organization was called to a dog rescue operation at Walker’s home in Island Lake four years ago.

“This case was in the top five of our most serious cases in the history of AEAR,” Wisniewski said. “The dog was truly being starved.” See video of the beagle rescued by AEAR.

“It’s atrocious and heart breaking, and when we did the investigation he was just slapped with a $25 fine. He was not prosecuted,” Wisniewski said.

Wisniewski said the dog was not being fed even though there was dog food at the home. She said it was difficult to get the dog away, but AEAR persisted and was able to take the dog, bring it back to health and find an adoptive home. 

AEAR is calling a special meeting to be held from 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Libertyville Civic Center, 135 W. Church St., Libertyville. The meeting will focus on the connection between animal cruelty, domestic violence, child abuse and crime.

Wisniewski said they will also discuss the laws and their experiences working with law enforcement, animal control and local officials.

“We’d like to focus on greater awareness of the issue and maybe spearhead some programs for change,” Wisniewski said.

Wisniewski points out that the connection of animal abuse to crimes against humans has been known for a long time, but is often not acknowledged. She said it is logical that animal cruelty is connected to cruelty toward humans.

"It should tell you something. If somebody is going to walk past a dog every single day and not going to feed the dog -- someone like that is just evil; it's beyond ignorance," she said.

For more information see AEAR’s Facebook page.

More information about Adam Moring can be found in this Patch article: Former Cary Man Killed in Arizona