Kielee Sonnemann (Waukesha County Jail) and Batman (family photo)

An 18-year-old babysitter in Wisconsin was arrested after being accused of killing the family’s dog in front of the 4-year-old child she was watching, allegedly stabbing the small chihuahua and then placing a plastic bag over its head. Kielee Sonnemann was taken into custody on Monday and charged with one count of mistreatment of animals causing death using a dangerous weapon, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.

According to a press release from the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, deputies on Friday, Jan. 26 responded to a call regarding a family dog that was found deceased inside of a residence located in the Village of Sussex, which is about 20 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

Upon arriving at the scene, first responders said they observed the deceased dog, named “Batman,” to have “injuries consistent with a stab wound.” Additionally, deputies said they observed that “a plastic bag had been placed over the dog’s head.”

“The family had a babysitter at the home on January 25th and suspected she had killed the dog, Batman, an 8-year-old Chihuahua,” the release states.

The babysitter — identified as Sonnemann — was subsequently interviewed by police and arrested for allegedly killing the animal.

“While the victims of this incident grieve the loss of a beloved family pet, the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department fully recognizes the severity of this crime,” Lt. Nicholas Wenzel from the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department in its news release.