Rockford teen accused of torturing animals to death in two separate incidents

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Police arrested Landon Mikaelson, 19, for allegedly torturing dogs and cats to death.

Officers took Mikaelson into custody on June 11, after reports from a man who claimed the suspect strangled his cat and dog. The owner of the animals told officials, Mikaeson had killed a cat and a dog in the past.

Mikaelson strangled a cat on May 29 and May 30, the owner reported. The man told officials that the suspect also strangled a dog to death on May 2.

A witness from the May 30 confirmed the incident happened and that he pulled the cat away from Mikaelson.

On Dec. 23, 2024, a woman reported to authorities that he had called her on Instagram to show her a cat he had killed.

The suspect told her he killed the cat by strangling, kicking and punching it because it was meowing too much, according to court records.

Mikaelson denied torturing any of the animals when interviewed by officers.

He is charged with cruelty to animals and animal torture for the most recent incident and animal torture for the incident in 2024.