In June 2023, a 22-year-old Chicago man, Thomas Martel, obtained a series of kittens through Craigslist or other means. He named every one of them Shelly. According to prosecutors, the kittens were drowned in his bathtub, mutilated, and in one account, killed in a microwave. His girlfriend discovered videos on his phone. One showed him holding a kitten with the caption “right before I murdered her,” according to the State’s account in open court.

In June 2026, three years and countless continuances later, he pleaded guilty to felony animal torture and aggravated cruelty to animals. More than 60,000 people had signed petitions demanding accountability. A jury was ready to be seated. Hours before trial, a plea agreement resolved the case instead. The conviction covered a single kitten. Every other charge was dismissed.

He was sentenced to 54 months in prison.

He entered the Illinois Department of Corrections on June 23, 2026. He was released the same day.

Zero days in a prison cell. And here is the part that should alarm every Illinois resident: nobody broke the rules. Once the plea was accepted, the law commanded everything that followed. His 1,079 days of pretrial home monitoring counted as prison time because the statute makes that credit mandatory. The remaining sentence was cut in half because Illinois serves animal torture sentences at 50 percent. Even a judge who wanted him to serve every day of that sentence could not have made it happen. The law, as written, did exactly what it was designed to do. That is the problem.

Discretion opened the door. The statutes did the rest. The 54-month agreement had been offered and withdrawn long before trial. On the morning jury selection was set to begin, the court chose to honor it anyway. Nothing in Illinois law prevented that choice, and nothing guided it. And once the plea was entered, everything that followed was automatic. That is why Shelly’s Law targets the statutes. Discretion can be debated case by case. The law guarantees this result every time.

Why the Law Allowed This

• Home monitoring counts as prison. Under 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-100, credit for time on pretrial home monitoring is mandatory. The court shall award it, day for day, with no exception for felony animal torture. A defendant can erase a prison sentence from his own bedroom.
• Animal torture sentences are cut in half automatically. Illinois serves animal torture at 50 percent, day-for-day credit. The most serious crimes against people are served at 85 percent. Torturing animals to death is not on that list.
• Multiple victims, one punishment. Illinois law lets sentences for multiple animal victims run concurrently. When a defendant tortures or kills more than one animal, the additional victims can simply disappear into the sentence for the first.

What Shelly’s Law Would Do

Shelly’s Law is named in memory of the kittens who were victims in the case that inspired this legislation. Although only one kitten was the subject of the felony conviction, every animal harmed by acts of torture deserves recognition, accountability, and justice.

• End prison sentence credit for pretrial home electronic monitoring in felony animal torture cases. A person convicted of felony animal torture should serve the custodial sentence imposed by the court, rather than satisfying that sentence through pretrial home confinement.
• Strengthen sentencing for crimes involving multiple animal victims. Illinois law should recognize each animal victim at sentencing by expanding the availability of consecutive sentences where appropriate. Torturing or killing multiple animals should not be treated as though there were only a single victim.

Our Request

By signing this petition, I respectfully urge the State Senator and State Representative to introduce, support, and pass Shelly’s Law to:

• End prison sentence credit for pretrial home electronic monitoring in felony animal torture cases.
• Ensure that each animal victim is meaningfully recognized at sentencing, including through consecutive sentences where appropriate.
• Strengthen accountability for the most serious acts of animal cruelty in Illinois.

Illinois can lead by ensuring that felony animal torture carries meaningful consequences and that every animal victim is recognized under the law. Every victim deserves to matter.

Animal torture is an extreme act of violence against living creatures that cannot defend themselves. The FBI has recognized animal cruelty as a serious indicator of violence against people, tracking it alongside major crimes since 2016. Strengthening these laws protects animals and reinforces public confidence that a sentence imposed by a court carries real consequences.

Who This Petition Targets

• Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Office of the Governor, 207 State House, Springfield, IL 62706
• Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, Illinois State Senate, Springfield, IL 62706
• Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Illinois House of Representatives, Springfield, IL 62706
• The members of the Illinois General Assembly

Join the Rally

Saturday, August 8, 2026 — 11:00 AM

Wescott Park, near the flagpole

Western and Dehne, Northbrook, Illinois

You can sign the petition in person and help us carry it door to door.

News Coverage

News Coverage

• Chicago man pleads guilty to killing, torturing cats at his Wicker Park apartment — ABC7 Chicago
• Chicago kitten killer sentenced to 4½ years for torturing, killing kittens — Fox 32 Chicago
• Wicker Park’s serial kitten killer avoids prison with last-minute plea deal — CWB Chicago
• The FBI’s tracking of animal cruelty as a Group A offense — FBI / NIBRS
• Animal Victory Petition garnering over 36,000 signatures

Learn more at ShellysLaw.org. The Shelly’s Law Coalition: a coalition of advocates uniting to end animal cruelty and strengthen protections for all animals.

Illinois is not alone in facing this issue, but it is falling behind. Florida, Washington State, Nevada, and Georgia have already enacted stronger protections. Read more here.