CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Robert Marshall announced Tuesday that bond has been set for two Hoffman Estates residents accused of starving two dogs to death.
An investigation into the matter led authorities to Gorski and Norris as the alleged owners of the dog. Investigators also found that the defendants had allegedly owned at least two other dogs, Scooby and Bubba. Through the investigation, it was learned that none of the dogs had many visits to the veterinarian.
On March 12, a search warrant was executed on the defendants’ home. When investigators arrived, they allegedly found Scooby, a German Shepherd/Hound mix, in a rusted dog crate, filled with animal feces, blood, and urine. He allegedly weighed approximately twenty pounds, was severely starved, could not walk, had massive sores including one where you could almost see his bone and had feces stuck in his fur.
Bubba, a Corgi, was not located at this time. Through their investigation, authorities learned that Bubba had allegedly died in the first week of March. Investigators subsequently found Bubba in a field wrapped in a sheet where Gorski and Norris allegedly dumped him.
Both Otis and Bubba were sent to the University of Illinois Veterinary School for a necropsy where it was determined that Otis died from canine parvovirus, starvation and rat poisoning. Bubba, who weighed only four pounds when he was found, died of severe starvation.
Additionally, it is alleged Norris and Gorski forged paystubs from Norris’ former employer, Petland.
"To say the charges against Sarah Gorski and Andre Norris are disturbing would be a gross understatement,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said. “Otis and Bubba both died a horrible, painful death, allegedly because these two defendants starved them to death. What’s even more disturbing is the allegation that the defendants fed Otis rat poison. Thankfully, the manner in which Gorski and Norris allegedly treated their pets was discovered and Scooby appears to be on the mend. If these charges are proven in court, the defendants will pay a serious price. I would like to thank the Naperville Police Department for their outstanding work on this sad case. I would also like to thank Naperville Animal Control, the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, VCA Boulder Terrace and Care Animal Clinic of Plainfield for their assistance. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Alyssa Rabulinski for her efforts on this heartbreaking case.”
Both Gorski’s and Norris’ next court appearance is scheduled for June 1, for arraignment in front of Judge Jeffrey MacKay.