Convicted Cat Stabber Faces Jail Time for her 'Heinous Act of Cruelty': State's Attorney

WHEATON – A DuPage County Judge sentenced a Chicago woman Monday to 90 days in jail for her role in the brutal stabbing murder of an Elmhurst family cat.

Kelly Palermo, 51, was also given a lifelong ban from owning a furry friend, according to a news release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. Prosecutors say Palermo was at the Elmhurst home of her daughter, Kelly, on the evening of June 10, 2015 when she became angry with the household feline, Zeppelin.

"It is alleged that Kelly Palermo picked up the cat and while she held it, Samantha Palermo stabbed the cat several times," the release said. "It is further alleged that following the stabbing, Kelly Palermo’s 14 year-old son got the cat away from his mother and called 911."

Prosecutors said Kelly then took the cat back from her son and held him down while Samantha, 22, proceeded to stab it several times again until it died. The two were taken into custody that evening when police showed up at the home in the 900 block of South Euclid Avenue. Each was charged with the same offense.

Kelly entered a blind plea of guilty on July 26 to one count of aggravated animal cruelty, a Class 4 felony. Blind pleas vary from standard plea bargains in that they do not come with an agreed upon sentence. A plea bargain would involve defense attorneys and prosecutors' settling on a sentence — a lighter one — in exchange for a defendant's guilty admission.

READ: Woman Accused in Elmhurst Cat Stabbing Withdraws Guilty Plea

“This morning, Kelly Palermo learned that for this heinous act of cruelty, she will spend three months of her life behind bars,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin said. “While Ms. Palermo took responsibility for her involvement in the death of a family pet, there is nothing that can be done to bring Zeppelin back."

Berlin thanked the Elmhurst Police Department and assistant state's attorneys, Kristin Johnston and Dave Friedland, for their collaboration on the case.

In addition to her jail sentence, Palermo is forever banned from owning or living with someone who owns a companion animal. She was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, plus court costs.

Samantha Palermo’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 17, 2016 before Judge Robert Miller.

Photo courtesy of the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office