Philadelphia police has arrested a teenage girl and charged her with murder for killing a 59-year-old man known for his animal rescue efforts.
According to the Philadelphia police, they arrested a teenage girl for the murder of animal rescue advocate Albert Chernoff. The officers responded to a report of a man in distress and found Chernoff in a house partially tied to the bed with a massive head wound and several slashes to his chest and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Prior to the arrival of the police, a female was seen leaving the property and a surveillance video from inside the house was released by the police in order to identify her. The police said that the unnamed 14-year-old girl arrived with her mother and two defense attorneys to turn herself in.
Court documents reveal that the arrest was made on November 8 and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for November 27. The police has since removed the surveillance video following her arrest.
Jane Roh, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia district attorney, said that officials have not made a decision as to whether the case would proceed in juvenile or adult court. Howard Taylor, one of the teenager's attorneys, mentioned that the girl is currently in juvenile detention.
Taylor said: "It's a very sad situation. Troubled girl. There's a reason police aren't saying much. There's a lot more to it." When questioned whether the girl was a victim, he responded that he "wouldn't put it to that extent" but claimed that "he wasn't totally innocent, either."
Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia praised Chernoff on Facebook following his death, saying: "Words escape me at times like this. The animal rescue community, and especially the cat community has lost an amazing man. He was one of the kindest people I've ever met and he would do anything for anyone. You are already missed and there is a hole in the heart of every cat rescuer that will never be filled."
