Three dogs shot to death Elsah, IL (US)Date: Dec 27, 2004 County: Jersey Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Timothy Bechtold
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A 43-year-old man is facing felony charges for allegedly shooting three dogs to death earlier this week in rural Jersey County. The Jersey County State�s Attorney�s Office charged Tim Bechtold, 43, of Godfrey, with three counts of cruelty to animals on Monday after he allegedly shot three dogs who were tied up on his property near Beltrees and Lockhaven roads.
The Jersey County Sheriff�s Department took Bechtold into custody Sunday night.
Sheriff Paul Cunningham said the details about why Bechtold shot the animals are unclear, but the sheriff said the defendant admitted shooting the dogs.
"He killed two instantly, and a third injured dog crawled to a neighbor�s house," he said.
The neighbor, who does not want to be identified, said the dogs were shot around 7 p.m. Sunday. She said the dogs were being kept inside a house and that some time during the day, Bechtold took the dogs -- two Labrador retrievers and a mixed breed -- outside and chained them up.
The neighbor said that Bechtold then left for the afternoon and later returned and shot the dogs, which another neighbor witnessed. She said a chocolate Labrador pulled itself off its chain after being shot in the head and body and escaped.
"My daughter found him and tried to take care of him," she said.
The neighbor said she called Jersey County Animal Control, which came and got the dog. She said sheriff�s deputies also came to Bechtold�s house.
"There was blood everywhere," she said. "Two of the dogs died instantly, but that chocolate Labrador really had a will to live. He knew what was coming and wanted to get away.
She said Animal Control workers took the dog to a veterinarian�s clinic in Jerseyville and that she and her daughter tried to get money together so the dog could be operated on, but they were told the dog wouldn�t make it.
"That dog had such a will to live," she said. "It just tears me up that he did this to them. Why would anyone want to hurt a defenseless animal?"
She said the dog lived for three hours before dying from its injuries.
The dogs belonged to Bechtold�s girlfriend, the neighbor said.
Bechtold, who was released Monday from Jersey County Jail in Jerseyville after posting bail on his $10,000 bond, could not be reached for comment. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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