Naperville Man Sentenced Eight Years for Killing Dog, Threatening Children

Nathan Gonzalez, a 36-year-old man from Naperville, Illinois, was sentenced to concurrent prison terms of five years for aggravated DUI and three years for aggravated animal cruelty after pleading guilty to killing his family dog and threatening his daughter and stepdaughter. Gonzalez was initially stopped by police in December 2023 for speeding and driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of .131 while driving on a suspended license. In September 2024, following an argument with his partner, Gonzalez violently killed the family dog, a Shih Tzu named Rocco, by blunt force trauma and threatened the two children, leading to his arrest. He was found hiding after fleeing from police, and the dog’s remains were discovered near a construction site. As part of his sentence, Gonzalez is permanently banned from owning or having custody of any animals. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin condemned Gonzalez’s actions as unconscionable and deeply disturbing, emphasizing the importance of treating pets as beloved family members.