A Naperville man was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of drunk driving and, in a separate incident, brutally killing his family dog.
Last week, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced that 36-year-old Nathan Gonzalez has been sentenced to concurrent terms of five years and three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following his guilty plea to one count of Aggravated DUI and one count of Aggravated Cruelty, respectively. As part of his sentence, Judge Joseph Bugos also ordered that Gonzalez shall not own, harbor or have custody or control of any animal for the remainder of his lifetime.
Acccording to prosecutors, on December 17, 2023, Naperville police officers pulled Gonzalez over for speeding. When speaking with Gonzalez, officers observed an odor of alcohol emanating from Gonzalez and he had glassy and bloodshot eyes. During the stop, officers learned that Gonzalez was driving on a suspended license out of Indiana. He was arrested at the scene, and it was later determined that his BAC was .131. He was charged and released.
On September 29, 2024, at approximately 5:58am, Naperville police dispatch received a 911 call from a fourteen-year-old female juvenile stating that her stepfather, later identified as Gonzalez, had killed their family dog and threatened the girl and her eleven-year-old stepsister. Upon their arrival, officers found the two girls at home. 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 partner 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 called his partner and told her he was going to kill Rocco. When she arrived home, she found Gonzalez at home, but Rocco was missing. 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 Rocco’s death.
“Following an argument with his partner, Nathan Gonzalez violently killed the family dog, Rocco,” Berlin said. “Mr. Gonzalez’s unconscionable actions, that took the life of a beloved, defenseless family pet, are extremely disturbing. Our pets are family members and deserve our love and comfort, not a violent, painful death as Rocco was forced to endure. Additionally, Mr. Gonzalez’s aggravated DUI conviction further illustrates his disregard for the rule of law and concern for others.”
