Between October 5, 2000, and October 8, 2000, Edward Kraklio Jr., age 35, of 744 17th Street, Rock Island, Illinois, repeatedly shot his neighbor�s cats, Felix and Cassie, with a pellet gun. Two-year-old Felix was blinded by being held down and having both eyes shot out with the pellet gun, and three-year-old Cassie was held and repeatedly tortured for four days. A veterinarian's exam showed that Cassie had several pellets in her body, had been stabbed repeatedly with a pitch fork and stomped on and kicked several times. Cassie was shot seven times, while Felix was shot three times, including once in each eye. His eyes had to be surgically removed.
It is difficult to imagine the fear and pain and agony these two babies had to endure over the course of those four days. Do you suppose this monster gave them any food or water during his torture spree? I doubt it. These babies were hungry, dehydrated and had absolutely no way to understand what was happening to them. And at what point did Felix have his eyes shot out? Do you think it was the first day, so that he had to endure 3 days of darkness on top of everything else?
Kraklio testified in court that Cassie had been killing his quails and rabbits that he was raising in his garage. He told a Rock Island police detective he shot at the cats 10 to 15 times, and heard noises indicating he was hitting them. He said that he shot at the cats but did not intend to hurt them or torture them. However, Dennis Reed, who worked with Mr. Kraklio, testified Kraklio told him he had the cats confined in his garage and was shooting them in their faces and heads. Mr. Reed said Kraklio told him he "was going to kill them slowly". Naturally, Kraklio denied having the conversation with Mr. Reed.
Kraklio didn�t *intend* to hurt them or torture them? Did he think that repeatedly stabbing Cassie with a pitchfork and then stomping on her and kicking here wouldn�t hurt? I wonder how many people actually *believe* he didn�t hurt them or torture them intentionally. Come on!
In May of this year, A Rock Island County Circuit Court judge Wednesday convicted Edward Kraklio Jr. of charges of animal torture and aggravated animal cruelty, despite Kraklio�s claims that he only meant to scare the two cats off his property, not harm them. Kraklio was convicted on two counts each of animal torture (a Class 4 Felony) and aggravated animal cruelty. Under Illinois law, animal torture carries a possible prison sentence of one to three years, a possible term of probation and a possible fine of up to $25,000. Aggravated cruelty to animals is a Class A misdemeanor that carries a possible jail term of up to one year and a possible fine of up to $2,500.
Sentencing for Edward Kraklio Jr. of charges of animal torture and aggravated animal cruelty toward Cassie and Felix will be held, August 8, 2001, at 9:00 a.m., according to the Rock Island County Felony Division.
Felony Division phone numbers: (309) 558-3950, 3952, 3953 or 3954
Rock Island County States Attorney
Rock Island County Court House
210 15th Street
Rock Island, IL 61201
Ph: (309) 786-4451
Please write the State Attorney�s office an ask that Edward Kraklio Jr. be sentenced the maximum sentence for his horrible crimes. |
