GLEN CARBON – Three Glen Carbon residents were arrested without incident Aug. 31, 2026, at a motel in West Sullivan, Mo., on animal cruelty warrants issued after authorities said 18 neglected dogs were rescued Aug. 21, 2026, from a home in the 200 block of Glen Carbon Road in Glen Carbon.
The Glen Carbon Police Department said Sullivan, Mo., police officers located Hannah Perry, 25, Donna Perry, 77, and Melanie Norem, 31, on the evening of Aug. 31, 2026, and took them into custody. All three were secured in the Crawford County, Mo., Jail, where they await extradition to Illinois.
The arrests followed an investigation into possible animal hoarding at the Glen Carbon Road residence. On Aug. 21, 2026, personnel from the Glen Carbon Police Department and Building and Zoning Department executed a search warrant at the home. Police said officers and civilian personnel had to wear respirators and other protective equipment to enter the residence.
Inside, authorities said they rescued 18 dogs from closed kennels and crates. The dogs were exhibiting various stages of dehydration, starvation and neglect, according to police. Village personnel also recovered or documented evidence of several deceased animals in and outside the home.
The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office issued arrest warrants for Hannah Perry, Donna Perry and Norem on eight counts each of aggravated cruelty to animals and eight counts each of cruelty to animals, police said.
Madison County prosecutors said they unsealed the animal cruelty charges after the defendants were taken into custody. The charges, filed under seal Aug. 27, 2026, stem from allegations that the defendants failed to provide adequate drinking water, clean food, clean living space and appropriate grooming for multiple companion animals in Madison County on Aug. 21, 2026.
The State’s Attorney’s Office is seeking pretrial detention of the defendants, but hearings on the detention petitions have not been scheduled.
“We expect people who take responsibility for an animal to provide appropriate care and treat that animal humanely,” State’s Attorney Tom Haine said in a statement. “Our office will continue working with law enforcement to investigate allegations of animal cruelty and hold offenders accountable when the evidence and the law support prosecution.”
The Glen Carbon Police Department said it continues to pursue investigative leads, including those involving theft, fraud and financial crimes related to the sale, boarding and training of dogs by any of the listed suspects.
Police said investigators have followed up on all investigative leads to locate a dog named “Chance,” who was reported to have been inside the residence. “Chance” was not recovered during the search warrant, and police said all credible evidence indicates he is likely deceased.
Haine said the Glen Carbon Police Department issued a release about the charges after they were unsealed.
“I commend the investigators and animal-welfare professionals who brought these allegations forward,” Haine said. “Their work is essential to protecting animals. I also commend the agencies, organizations and members of the public who have stepped forward to care for the recovered animals.”
Anyone with information connected to the investigation is encouraged to contact Lt. Jeff Blind at 618-288-2643.
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
