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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.
The family provided additional details in an interview with Milwaukee NBC affiliate WTMJ.
According to the report, the family told the station that their 4-year-old daughter was the one who discovered the dog dead underneath a pile of blood-soaked blankets.
During her police interview, Sonnemann did not confess to any specific wrongdoing, but did say that she “shooed” the dog away “a little bit.” Sonnemann also reportedly told police that “when she gets mad and lashes out, everything goes blank” and that she “does not remember” what happened that evening.
As Sonnemann discussed the situation longer, she reportedly told police that “there was a lot of drama going on” and that, in regards to Batman’s death, “It’s kind of sounding like I did it.”
Prosecutors on Monday reportedly reiterated that there is evidence that Sonnemann actually killed Batman in front of the young daughter.
“There’s at least some suggestion that this was a crime of violence perpetrated in the presence of a 4-year-old child. The crime itself is very disturbing,” Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper said the proceeding, per WTMJ.
Sonnemann is facing a maximum sentence of four years in prison if convicted.
