State seeks to commit area woman charged in animal cruelty case

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The assistant state's attorney prosecuting a Rochelle woman who apparently hoarded nearly 300 animals has filed a petition to have her committed for psychiatric care. Barbara C. Munroe, 65, was taken from the Lee County Jail for a mental evaluation Monday, after Assistant State's Attorney Andrew Bollman filed an emergency petition for involuntary commitment in Circuit Judge Jacquelyn Ackert's court.

Munroe is charged with eight counts of animal cruelty and two counts of violating owner's duties after a search of her house resulted in the seizure of more than 150 cats, about 100 dogs and about 30 birds, most of which were dehydrated and malnourished, officials said.

The have been taken to a temporary shelter in an airplane hangar in DeKalb that is being run by the TAILS Humane Society.

More than 200 animal carcasses also were found in and around her rural Mulligan Road home, which was thick with feces and infested with maggots, fleas and rats and may be condemned.

Munroe pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday; at her arraignment, she appeared confused and insisted she had done nothing wrong. Public Defender Bob Thompson was appointed her attorney.

In his petition, Bollman cited Munroe's living conditions and a concern for her safety. A hearing will be held within five days to determine if she should be involuntarily committed or returned to jail.

Lee County Animal Control Warden Jack Nicklaus said he was aware that Munroe had medical problems and became concerned about her larger dogs jumping on her and causing her to fall. Animal Control workers had been to the home several times to help her feed and water the animals outside, but Munroe refused to allow him inside the home, he said.

"She was the kind of person who didn't want to ask for help," Nicklaus said. "In the short term, the animals we saw were all in good shape a few months ago, and we tried to tell her that she needed to bring the dogs in for vaccinations."

The Lee County Sheriff's Department was sent to Munroe's home Thursday after Animal Control officials became concerned about 35 dogs that had missed their rabies vaccines, called the state's attorney's office. They also had become aware of numerous animals living in outdoor pens, and the run-down shape of the house.

A state Department of Agriculture representative, also sent to the home Thursday, saw that the outside animals were in poor condition and noticed a strong smell of ammonia coming from the house. Deputies, too, noticed the strong scent of urine and excrement, and saw rats eating the food given to the dogs, Varga said.

Munroe agreed to be checked out at a local mental health care facility and was sent home Thursday night, Varga said.

The ag department representative called the state's attorney's office and requested a search warrant, which was executed Friday, when Munroe was arrested and taken to jail.

She was uncooperative during booking and was treated for lice, fleas and other medical issues before being put in isolation, where "the female correctional officers went above and beyond to get her presentable for court," Varga said.

The Lee County Health Department has deemed her home "uninhabitable;" a hearing will be held to determine if it should be condemned.

A hearing will be scheduled within the next two weeks regarding the animals. If the court grants forfeiture, they can be auctioned or adopted, Bollman said.

Another hearing will be held regarding 11 dogs TAILS could not take because they exhibited aggressive behavior. Until the dogs are declared vicious, they will not be euthanized, Bollman said.

Reach Tara Becker at (815) 625-3600 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 570.

Reach Tara Becker at (815) 284-2222 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 570.