Man pleads guilty to animal cruelty for stabbing family dog to death

A Carpentersville man who said God told him to kill his family's dog pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated cruelty to an animal.

Christopher Castillo, 24, was sentenced to 18 months of probation. He could have received up to three years in prison.

Castillo is required to continue participating in psychotherapy.

According to Kane County Forest Preserve District police, around 4:30 a.m. March 25, 2021, Castillo told his parents he was taking the dog out for a walk.

When he did not return by 8 a.m., they reported him missing. The family eventually found Castillo's car, a piece of clothing and the wounded dog in the parking lot of the Helm Woods Forest Preserve near Barrington Hills, authorities said.

One of the relatives assumed the dog was dead and took it home. Police later took the animal to a veterinary hospital where it died.

Police found Castillo later that day walking along Route 62. Police said he told them God told him to kill the dog.