Gerbil stomped to death in front of children
New Berlin, WI (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, May 11, 1996
County: Waukesha

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: JoAnn Liban

JoAnn Liban, 40, of New Berlin who was accused of stomping the family's pet gerbil to death in front of her children was sentenced to one year of probation.

When her husband announced the day before their 18th wedding anniversary that he never loved her and intended to divorce her, she became very upset. One of the main factors in stomping the gerbil was alcohol consumption.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge Roger P. Murphy sentenced her to one year of probation after JoAnn Liban pleaded no contest to one count of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, and in exchange for her plea of one count of mistreatment of animals, which is also a misdemeanor, was dropped.

The criminal complaint said the woman got in her car with her two children and drove away after receiving the phone call from her husband saying he never loved her and wanted a divorce. She drove away recklessly and frightened her children. She stopped at a bar and went inside. The children were left in a car by themselves for about 90 minutes.

When they arrived at home the pet gerbil had escaped from its cage and was running around the house. When JoAnn Liban picked up the gerbil, she squeezed it, and the animal bit her hand. She threw it to the floor and stomped on it, killing the gerbil.

The couple have divorced and the mother was awarded primary placement of the children.

She has undergone alcohol abuse counseling and the children have also received counseling. If Liban violates probation, she could go to jail.

References

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Mar 11, 1997

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