90 Days For Beating Roommate, Fatally Stabbing Bird

WHEATON, Ill. (STMW) -- A west suburban man was sentenced to 90 days in jail for beating his former roommate and fatally stabbing his pet cockatiel.

David Hritz, 40, of the 1200 block of Glen Ellyn Road in Glendale Heights was sentenced to 90 days in the DuPage County Jail by Judge Robert Kleeman, who found him guilty on July 9 of two counts of domestic battery and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's office.

Hritz repeatedly struck his roommate about her head and body with his fists during an argument that turned physical the night of Aug. 25, 2012, according to prosecutors. He also threw his own pet cockatiel against the wall before fatally stabbed the bird with a knife.

"Domestic violence continues to be a very serious problem throughout the country," State's Attorney Robert Berlin said a statement. "According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, it is estimated that 1.3 million women are victims of a physical assault by an intimate partner every year and one in every four women will experience domestic violence at some point in her lifetime."

Hritz is required to serve 50 percent of his sentence before being released, prosecutors said. He was also sentenced to two years probation, must submit to counseling as deemed necessary, and may not have any animals.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)