60 Dead Cats + 1 Dog Found in Van, Man Faces Charges

It didn't happen in Geneva, but it was close enough to cause a wrench in the gut for anyone concerned with issues of animal welfare.

A 60-year-old Kane County man faces animal cruelty charges after city officials discovered 61 dead animals in a van parked on his property, police said.

William C. Tinkler, of the 200 block of Villa Street in Elgin, told police and animal control officers that he put an estimated 60 dead cats and one dead dog carcass into his van after they died. Police were called to his residence to investigate possible animal cruelty at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to a press release.

Tinkler also said he had another 12 cats living with him. Animal control captured several of the live cats inside and out of the residence. The remaining cats will be captured over the next few days. A veterinarian will evaluate all of the living cats, police said.

A city contractor alerted the Elgin City Code Department about the dead cats. Once City Code officials went to the scene, they called for police and animal control.

List of Charges

After police conducted interviews Wednesday afternoon, the following charges were filed in Kane County Court on Tinkler:

• Four counts of Cruelty to Animals (Class A misdemeanor)
• Four counts of Violation of Owners Duties (Class B misdemeanor)
• One count of Violation of Dead Animal Disposal Act (Class C misdemeanor)

If convicted of any Class A misdemeanor, Tinkler could face a sentence of less than one year in jail, according to sentencing guidelines in the current state statute.

Tinkler posted $150 bond and was released from the Elgin City Jail Wednesday night, according to police.

His next scheduled court appearance is Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. in the Elgin Branch Court, 150 Dexter Ct., Elgin.