Cat killer microwaved kittens, then freed from prison after one day | US | News
A man who admitted torturing and killing kittens was released from prison just one day after the end of his four-and-a-half-year sentence.
Last month, Thomas Martel, 25, pleaded guilty to animal torture and aggravated cruelty after prosecutors alleged he severely injured and killed several kittens in his home in 2023. Authorities allege he strangled the kittens, mutilated them, and even put them in the microwave.
Neighbors are already campaigning against his release, distributing leaflets throughout the area warning pet owners of his conviction; Meanwhile, an animal rights advocacy organization is preparing to respond directly to the high-profile local case.
Martel, of Chicago, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison by a Cook County judge. But court documents reveal he accumulated more than 1,000 days of credit for wearing an electronic tag before the trial.
He was transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections on June 23. However, he was released the same day to begin a six-month Mandatory Supervised Release.
According to the terms of release, contact with or possession of any animal is prohibited.
The circumstances triggered outrage in broader Chicago society and led animal advocates to cite the case as evidence of the need to reform Illinois state laws.
Chicago-area-based charity SAYv Animal Organization is leading the campaign against Martel’s release. Executive Director Jackie Groberski explained that experts remain baffled as to how she acquired so many kittens and urged local pet owners to take additional precautions to protect their beloved animals.
“We still don’t know exactly how Thomas Martel got his hands on all the kittens he tortured and killed,” Groberski said. “What we do know is that it is incredibly easy to get a free pet online.”
While he recommended pet owners have their animals spayed and neutered to reduce susceptibility, he also urged them to be wary of “free kitten” or “free cat” ads appearing online.
The high-profile case led to the formation of a new advocacy group called the Shelly Legal Coalition, of which the Garrido Stray Rescue Foundation is a founding member, and will be unveiled to the public at an animal rights rally next month, Groberski said.
The coalition is preparing to pressure lawmakers to close the loophole that allowed Martel to avoid prison time. In particular, he will campaign for a law that prevents defendants convicted of animal cruelty from having time spent wearing an electronic monitoring device during the pre-trial period count towards their prison sentence.
The coalition will campaign for tougher sentences in cases involving multiple animal victims.
