Midlothian Man Pleads Guilty In Dog's Torture Death, Gets Probation

MOKENA, IL — A Midlothian man who was charged in connection with the torture and deaths of two dogs belonging to a woman he'd met on a dating app pleaded guilty in Will County Court.

Matthew Berry was indicted by a Will County grand jury in August 2022 on animal cruelty charges in connection with the death of the woman's dog, Kirby.

In the indictment, Berry was charged with one count of animal torture in the beating death of Kirby as well as a count of aggravated cruelty to animals in the beating, which police said took place in Mokena in 2020.

He pleaded guilty Jan. 16 to one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty, court records show.

Sarah Manos, the dogs' owner, initially filed a complaint with Mokena Police Department, claiming that Berry had beaten and tortured her dog for 14 hours, which led to the dog's death, Patch previously reported.

Manos also sued Berry, claiming Berry had been abusive to her and physically abused her dogs, Daisy and Kirby. The two dogs died by different methods and by Berry's hand, she alleged. In Cook County, Daisy died after ingesting medication given by Berry, Manos alleged. A month later, in Will County, Berry then reportedly punched Kirby, which caused the dog’s death.

A judge later ordered Berry to pay Manos, who met Berry on the dating app Bumble, more than $160,000. The amount included $100,000 in damages after determining that Berry violated the Illinois Human Care For Animals Act in 2020. Berry was also ordered to pay an additional $60,000 in other fees to cover costs including veterinarian bills, the purchase price of the two dogs and as nearly $13,000 in mental health treatment that Manos received after the death of her two dogs.

It's unknown if Berry ever paid Manos.

Manos turned to Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow to pursue charges, after then-Cook County State's Kim Foxx declined to press charges, citing a lack of evidence.

Glasgow, known for taking up cases in animal defense, filed charges in June 2022.

Berry pleaded guilty Jan. 16, and on Jan. 28 was refunded $3,531 in bond. He was sentenced to two years' probation, conditional discharge, according to court records.

His conditional discharge is set to be terminated Jan. 13, 2027.