Prosecutors: Elmhurst women stabbed, killed family cat

An Elmhurst woman, who's court records indicate a violent history, and her mother are facing aggravated animal cruelty charges after authorities said they repeatedly stabbed and finally killed their family cat.

Prosecutors said Kelly Palermo, 50, of Chicago, became angry with the cat just before 9 p.m. Wednesday at her daughter's house and held it while her daughter, Samantha Palermo, 21, of the 900 block of South Euclid, stabbed the animal several times.

Kelly Palermo's 14-year-old son was able to briefly wrestle the cat away from his mother and call 911, but Kelly Palermo quickly got the cat back.

Prosecutors said Kelly Palermo then told Samantha Palermo she either had to take the cat to the vet or kill it.

Kelly Palermo then held the cat down while Samantha again stabbed it several more times, eventually killing it, authorities said.

Both women appeared in bond court Thursday morning where Judge Richard Russo set bail at $125,000 for each. Both women said they intend to post the required 10 percent to be released.

"The allegations in this case are beyond disturbing," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement after their hearing. "The very idea that two adults would work in tandem to kill a helpless family pet is sickening and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Samantha Palermo's next court appearance is scheduled for July 7 in front of Judge Robert Kleeman. Kelly Palermo's next court appearance is scheduled for July 6 in front of Judge Liam Brennan.

Samantha Palermo currently has two separate battery cases pending from 2014, in addition to an unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia charge. In March of 2015 she was charged with domestic violence and was alleged to have bitten and beaten her mother.

Kelly Palermo has a pending DUI case, also from March.

As a condition of bond, both women were ordered not to possess any animals.