Man Tortures and Kills Three Dogs in Lake County

Juan Rositas, 49, of the 100 block of Fulton Street in Waukegan, was arrested on three felony counts each of animal torture and aggravated cruelty to animals.

Three graves in the backyard of a Waukegan home led police on an investigation that ended with a man in custody for allegedy beating two dogs to death and suffocating a third with a plastic bag.

Juan Rositas, 49, of the 100 block of Fulton Street was arrested on three felony counts of animal torture and aggravated cruelty to animals, the Chicago Tribune is reporting. He is also facing misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and had a warrant for charges of aggravated assault and use of a deadly weapon.

The police investigation began when the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office contacted Waukegan Animal Control, the Tribune said.

The crimes are believed to have taken place between Thanksgiving and January 1.

“Waukegan police Lt. Edward Fitzgerald said one dog was beaten to death with a claw hammer and another was beaten and then had a plastic bag placed over its head until it stopped breathing,” The Tribune reported. “The third dog was killed with a sledgehammer, Fitzgerald told the Tribune.”

Rositas is being held on $750,000 bail. He must undergo a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation in order to be released. Each of the felony charges carry a five to seven year sentence.