Officials say the animals were likely dumped in a rural residential area after suffering signs of fighting and a violent death.
CRETE TOWNSHIP, Ill. — A month after six young dogs were found stuffed in trash bags and left in a ditch in unincorporated Crete Township, Will County officials on Monday offered a $5,000 reward and renewed calls for information in what they called a deeply violent animal abuse case.
The announcement brought together prosecutors, sheriff’s investigators and county animal protection officials, who said the killings remain unsolved and may point to broader criminal behavior. Authorities said the dogs, all believed to be pit bull-type animals, were found March 3 near Norfolk Avenue and Kings Road. The animals had marks that suggested fighting, officials said, but investigators believe those wounds were not the direct cause of death.
The public details of the case begin with a routine workday. Crete Township highway crews were clearing roadside debris when they collected several black plastic bags from a ditch in a wooded section of the township, officials said. The workers loaded the bags into a truck and returned to their facility before checking what was inside. There, authorities said, they discovered the bodies of six dogs. The highway department then contacted Will County Animal Protection Services, which in turn notified the sheriff’s office and launched what has become a countywide investigation.
Investigators now believe the animals were brought to the area and discarded there, rather than killed at the site. Deputy Chief Jeremy Zdzinicki said the neighborhood is somewhat rural, with homes spread apart and thick tree cover along parts of the road. He said detectives do not suspect nearby residents were involved, a point officials appeared eager to make as they described the scene. Instead, the focus remains on who had the dogs, where they were killed, and how they ended up in bags beside a road in southern Will County.
Anna Payton, who leads county animal protection services, said the dogs were between 9 and 18 months old and weighed roughly 45 to 55 pounds. She said they were young animals that should have been healthy and had been “brutalized, killed, and disposed of like garbage.” Officials said they were euthanized in a manner that was not humane, but they would not say more about the precise method. Authorities also said they do not believe a veterinarian was involved. That withholding of details appeared intended to protect the investigation and preserve facts known only to the killer or killers.
The injuries on the dogs have raised suspicions about dog fighting, though officials stopped short of saying they had confirmed an organized operation. The animals bore bite marks and other wounds consistent with fighting, authorities said. Glasgow said such cases are often about more than cruelty alone, arguing that severe violence against animals can signal danger beyond the immediate crime. He described the case as a public safety issue and said his office intends to pursue strong charges if those responsible are identified. No charges had been filed as of Monday, and no suspect was named.
The reward announced Monday is backed by First Secure Bank and its chairman, Jay Bergman. Bergman said he stepped forward because he wanted to help move the case toward an arrest. Officials said the money would go to information leading to the arrest and charging of a person or persons of interest. Tips are being funneled through Will County Crime Stoppers, allowing people to share information anonymously. Authorities did not say whether they have surveillance footage, vehicle descriptions, cell phone evidence or witnesses who saw suspicious activity around the ditch in the days before March 3.
The emotional tone of the news conference reflected the shock the case has caused. Glasgow said the killings stood out even in a system that regularly handles violent crime, and he warned that people capable of such acts can present a danger to the community at large. Payton said the dogs had no voice of their own and depended on people to seek justice for them. The combination of a remote dumping site, young animals, suspected fighting injuries and a concealed manner of disposal has made the investigation one of the most disturbing recent animal cruelty cases in the county.
Monday ended with the case still open, the reward now in place and authorities waiting for new leads. The next step is whether tips, forensic work or follow-up interviews can identify who owned the dogs, who killed them and who drove to the roadside ditch to leave them there.
Author note: Last updated April 20, 2026.