WAUKESHA, Wis. (November 26, 2024) — In Defense of Animals applauds the sentencing of Kielee Sonnemann, who was charged with animal cruelty for killing Batman, a dog belonging to a family she was babysitting for. 

On November 25, she was sentenced to three years imprisonment, with one year of initial confinement and two years of extended supervision, in addition to three years of probation. 

The conditions of her probation include alcohol and drug abuse assessment and treatment, absolute sobriety, no possessing alcohol or illegal drugs or prescription drugs without a prescription and follow through on recommendations for assessments, treatments and counseling. She must also not associate with drug users or dealers, submit to a mental health evaluation and treatment and have no contact with the victims. She may also not use or possess dangerous weapons. 

Batman’s family hired Sonnemann to watch their 4-year-old daughter on January 25, 2024. When the mother returned home Sonnemann had left. When Batman did not come to greet her, she repeatedly called Sonnemann who didn’t respond.

Batman’s frantic family thought he had gotten out while they were away. Their social media post brought the community out the next morning for an all-out search for 8-year-old Batman, a black chihuahua. The exhausted family returned home without their little dog.

A review of the home security camera revealed that Batman was in the living room with the child and the sitter close to 7:00. Later the sitter is seen walking down the hall to the room where Batman would be found. The horrid truth was discovered when the 11-year-old daughter who was visiting her grandmother the evening before went to her room and saw Batman’s legs sticking out of bloodied blankets, piled with stuffed animals, and pillows. Her scream alerted her father who rushed to the room and uncovered Batman’s lifeless body.

Law enforcement was called to the home in the Village of Sussex, in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The father of Batman’s family gave the responding officers the details of what happened and told them he suspected their babysitter killed Batman.

When Sonnemann was questioned, she admitted to stabbing Batman with the bathroom scissors and suffocating him with a plastic grocery bag. As she recently turned 18, she was charged as an adult with “mistreatment of animals, with the use of a dangerous weapon, a felony.” The charge is punishable by up to three years in prison and the weapon enhancer charge allows a judge to add another four years to her sentence.

Records show Sonnemann told police, “It’s kind of sounding like I did do it,” and confessed that she was angry with Batman and that she lashes out when she gets angry.

On January 29, the Court Commissioner set Sonnemann’s bail at $15,000 cash with the conditions that the “Defendant is not to possess any dangerous weapons/firearms. Defendant is not allowed to have any unsupervised contact with any domestic animals. The defendant cannot babysit. Defendant to have no unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 18.”

In Defense of Animals delivered a letter to District Attorney Susan L. Opper with 14,568 signatures supporting Sonnemann’s prosecution and calling for mandatory mental health evaluation and treatment.

“A person who could macabrely slay an innocent dog with a child present needs serious intervention.. Sonnermann is a danger to herself and others who must be subjected to mandatory mental health evaluation and treatment,” stated Doll Stanley, In Defense of Animals Senior Campaigner.

CONTACT: Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, (662) 809-4483

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters defending animals, people, and the environment through education, campaigns, and hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, California, and rural Mississippi since 1983. www.idausa.org/justice4animals

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