August 4, 2023, Peoria, IL – Charges were filed today against three people who left several dogs kenneled inside a boat on the Illinois River earlier this month. Amanda Oneill, 23, Kourtney Recaldini, 19, and Jacob Bees, 22, were charged with Aggravated Animal Cruelty (Class 4 Felony). An arrest warrant in the amount of $5,000 was issued for each of them.
On July 5, investigators were called to an abandoned boat anchored outside the Riverplex. Inside the cabin of the boat, officers found seven emaciated dogs inside kennels without access to food or water. One dog was deceased. During the investigation, it was discovered that Oneill, Recaldini, and Bees had been living on the boat with the dogs.
The case is still under investigation, and more charges are expected when the case proceeds to Grand Jury later this month.
We appreciate the community’s patience while we reviewed this matter. This was a complicated case due to the location where the dogs were found, the lack of identifying records, and the sheer number of dogs and owners involved.
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