DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced today that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a Naperville man accused of killing the family dog and threatening to kill his two stepdaughters. Nathan Gonzalez, 36 (d.o.b. 10/4/1988) of the 300 block of S. Whispering Hills Drive, appeared in First Appearance Court this morning charged with one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a Class Four Felony, and two counts of Misdemeanor Endangering the Health or Life of a Child. Additionally, Judge Dieden granted the State’s motion to detain Gonzalez on unrelated Misdemeanor Domestic Battery charges alleging he struck his wife with a baseball bat on October 2, 2024.
On September 29, 2024, at approximately 5:58 a.m., Naperville police dispatch received a 911 call from a fourteen-year-old female juvenile stating that her stepfather, later identified as Nathan Gonzalez, had allegedly killed their family dog and was threatening to kill her and her eleven-year-old stepsister. Upon their arrival, officers found the two girls at home, however, Gonzalez and the family dog Rocco, a black and white Shih Tzu, were missing. Through the course of their investigation into the matter, authorities learned that Gonzalez and his wife were out for the evening but had a dispute and took separate rides home with Gonzalez arriving at the home first. After the pair split, Gonzalez allegedly called his wife and told her he was going to kill Rocco. When she arrived home, she allegedly found Gonzalez at home, but Rocco was missing. An argument ensued between the two during which Gonzalez allegedly told his wife that he had killed Rocco and dumped his body in a construction site. Gonzalez then left the home. Several hours later, officers received a phone call advising that Gonzalez had returned home. When officers arrived, they learned that Gonzalez had fled the area on foot. He was found a few blocks away hiding behind a dumpster. The following day, Naperville Animal Control officers found Rocco at a construction site. A necropsy found blunt force trauma to the head as the cause of death.
“It is alleged that following a disagreement with his wife, Nathan Gonzalez violently killed Rocco, the family dog, and threatened the life of his two stepdaughters,” Berlin said. “These allegations, that Mr. Gonzalez killed the family dog following a dispute with his wife, are simply unconscionable. This type of conduct will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the law. Because of his alleged actions, Mr. Gonzalez is now facing a serious felony charge. I thank the Naperville Police Department for their efforts on this very sad case. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Alyssa Rabulinski and Adam Frahm for their work resulting in these charges.”
“This is a disturbing case, and our thoughts are with the children impacted by this horrible act,” said Chief Arres. “I’m grateful to our patrol, investigations, and Animal Control officers for putting together a solid case against the person responsible and to State’s Attorney Bob Berlin’s office for their continued partnership and tireless work to bring offenders to justice.”
Gonzalez’s next court appearance is scheduled for arraignment on the Aggravated Cruelty to Animals case on November 18, 2024, in front of Judge Joseph Bugos.
Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.