Former Deerfield Woman Indicted for Animal Cruelty

A former Deerfield resident arrested as a fugitive by Deerfield Police Feb. 24 was indicted by the Lake County Grand Jury April 24 for aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class 4 Felony, according to a spokesperson for the Lake County Circuit Clerk’s office.

Debra Jaffe, 42, could face between one and three years in prison if convicted. She will be arraigned at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Lake County Criminal Court.

Earlier: Deerfield Fugitive Arrested for Animal Cruelty

Originally charged by Deerfield Police Nov. 1 with eight counts of animal cruelty after a tip from a former neighbor on Chestnut Street Jaffe vacated the home and dogs remained, she eluded Police until April 24 when she was stopped in Palatine for a traffic violation, according to Deerfield Police reports.

Jaffe had hoped to have the original charges reduced to the misdemeanor level but the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office was unwilling to make the change, according to State’s Attorney Communications Manager Cynthia Trujillo as reported in the Trib Local.

"Prosecuting the maltreatment of defenseless animals is a top priority of the Lake County State's Attorney's office," Ken LaRue, chief of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s felony review division, said in the Trib Local story.

When police arrived at the Chestnut Street home Nov. 1, they determined no one was living in the house other than the dogs and ultimately forced entry with the help of the fire department to tend to the dogs, according to the report. One of the dogs was dead and the other in need of medical attention. A vet was contacted to take care of the animals.

Once inside the house, police found no food or water for the dogs and animal waste through the building, according to the report. The “smell in the house was overwhelming from the feces and urine.”

Police made contact with Jaffe at 11 p.m. Nov. 1, according to the report. She was informed of the charges, agreed to surrender and never did, according to Deputy Deerfield Police Chief Rick Wilk.

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