Dead Boy, 200 Plus Animals Found in Berwyn Home...last week

[Stuart G]

By Charlie Wojciechowski, Jeff Goldblatt & BJ Lutz
NBCChicago.com

updated 9/11/2011 9:45:53 AM ET



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44461082/ns/local_news-chicago_il/


More than 200 animals were rescued from a Berwyn home Thursday and Friday in a major case of animal hoarding discovered during the investigation of a teen boy's death.

Officials on Thursday were called to a home on the 2800 block of Lombard Avenue after a 14-year-old boy was reported to be unresponsive. The teen, Matthew Degner, later died at a hospital.

A Friday autopsy pointed to bronchopneumonia and his death was ruled natural, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said.

A law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation said three other teens -- between the ages of 12 and 17 -- also lived in the home. All were suffering from flu-like symptoms. They're now in the care of Department of Children and Family Services personnel and are receiving medical care and therapy.

A fourth person, an 18-year-old, remained in the hospital Friday night.

A DCFS spokesman said it's believed the children were kept in isolation.
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I am not sure what I think about this. But, I believe that the animals were treated better, (whatever that means) than the children.
Berwyn is a western suburb of Chicago
.How sad..

[Selatius]

1. When you stuff humans and animals into the same cramped space, it leaves opportunity for viruses.

This is how swine flu or avian flu can get into the human population.

Also, the mother should be put in a home for the mentally disabled. She needs help.

[Ezlivin]

2. Noah's ark doesn't set sail...

Animal hoarders are odd creatures.

[Stuart G]

3. There are many many animal hoarders out there..

Just yesterday I had a conversation with someone about a relative who has 32 cats living in a simple 6 room home. These animals have marked their territory as they do, and basiclly run the place. That home is totally unliveable. Cat urin everywhere and the person
lives alone and tends to them full time. Fortunately, it is one person with the cats, no children or others. But there are more people like this then we know about.

[sad sally]

4. I love animals, but shouldn't this story first say four children and one young adult

were rescued along with 200 animals.

[jberryhill]

5. "Berwyn is a western suburb of Chicago"

Thank you. There are a lot of Berwyns, and local stories without geographic reference drive me bananas.