Chicago Woman Accused in Elmhurst Cat Stabbing Withdraws Guilty Plea

A woman facing aggravated cruelty charges for allegedly stabbing a family member's cat to death in Elmhurst has rescinded her guilty plea.

Chicagoan Kelly Palermo, 51, initially pleaded guilty on July 26 in advance of her autumn sentencing, a Daily Herald article said. However, she is now seeking a trial date. Her new attorney reportedly filed a motion last week to switch the plea on grounds that her previous legal counsel "forced her" to enter it by threatening that she, "was going to jail that day if she did not plead guilty."

"During the July hearing, DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Johnson said Palermo became angry when the cat bit her around 9 p.m. on June 10, 2015, at her daughter's house on the 900 block of South Euclid," the Daily Herald reports. "In response, she and her daughter, Samantha Palermo, 22, decided to kill the cat."

The two reportedly tag-teamed the stabbing amidst attempts by Kelly's young, teenaged son to wrestle it away, the story said.

Check out the full report for additional details.