Grandmother accused of killing cat, 4 kittens to punish grandchildren

An Illinois grandmother is facing an animal cruelty charge for allegedly killing a cat and four kittens to punish her grandchildren.

Police said Josephine Bell, 71, was arrested Monday night after the animals were found dead in the family's freezer.

After the woman's grandchildren wouldn't clean their rooms, officials said she killed the animals with a hammer and then stuck them in a brown paper bag in the freezer.

Police said Bell's 13-year-old granddaughter found the dead cat after she went to get a snack out of the freezer. The four dead kittens were reportedly thrown away and could not be found.

Officials said Bell confessed to the killing and told police she did it because the children would not clean their rooms.

It wasn't immediately known if Bell has legal representation who could comment on the allegations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.