Godfrey grandmother charged after killing grandkids’ cats

The 71-year-old grandmother who told police she killed her grandchildren’s cat and four kittens with a hammer Monday was arrested and faces an aggravated animal cruelty charge, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Department.

A deputy arrived at Josephine E. Bell’s home in the 5000 block of West Victor Drive in Godfrey shortly after 7 p.m. Monday after Bell’s teenage granddaughter found her dead cat in the family’s freezer and called police. When the deputy asked the girl what happened to the cat, Bell interrupted her and said she killed the cat and four kittens with a hammer after telling the grandchildren they’d lose their animals if they did not clean their rooms.

Bell told police she killed the cat and kittens, because she felt like she couldn’t take care of them. A Madison County Animal Control officer recovered the deceased cat but could not find the kittens, because they’d been thrown away.

Bell was arrested and remains in the Madison County Jail on $15,000 bond.

This story was originally published May 19, 2015 at 3:26 PM with the headline "Godfrey grandmother charged after killing grandkids’ cats."