A teenage girl has been charged with murder after allegedly tying down and then beating to death a well-known animal rescue worker.

Albert Chernoff, a US Army veteran, was reportedly found naked and tied to a bed at his home with a massive head injury and slashes across the chest.

Police said he is believed to have been beaten to death with a 2×4 piece of wood embedded with nails.

Chernoff – known as Alley Cat – was a well-known animal rescue worker in Rhawnhurst, Pennsylvania.

Cops had been called after neighbours became concerned for his welfare.

Ajahnae Smaugh, 14, has now been arrested and charged with murder over the brutal killing.

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CCTV video was released showing a suspect rummaging around Chernoff’s property in the US.

The suspect is seen walking through the living room and the kitchen area.

They use the sink to wash their hands and look through the fridge before leaving through the front door.

Chernoff’s cats can be seen moving around the property in the short clip.

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Police did not specify the gender or age of the person in the clip – and offered a $20,000 reward for information.

And later the girl handed herself in along with her mum and two lawyers.

It is unclear if the girl is the person who appears in the CCTV.

Jane Roh, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia district attorney, said they have have not decided whether to proceed in juvenile or adult court for the murder case.

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Howard Taylor, one of her lawyers, told CNN that the suspect was a “troubled girl”.

He 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."

And when asked if she was a victim, he said he "wouldn't put it to that extent," but added that "he wasn't totally innocent, either."

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Chernoff had 11 cats, three turtles and two frogs and was a well-known animal rescue worker in Philadelphia.

He featured in the documentary film The Cat Rescuers, and the filmmakers shared a short video about him in the wake of his death.

Alley Cat shows off his cat tattoos in the short clip – and the documentarians praised his “warmth and affability”.

“The world is just a little bit colder today without this wonderful human being,” they said.

Chernoff's friend Angelo Ruffo said: “Al was amazing, anything you needed he would do.

“He was known for building shelters for all the feral stray cats in the city. He was a good man.”

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Chernoff also rode motorcycles and worked at Philadelphia International Airport.

And he appeared in the National Geographic reality TV series Rescue Ink.

The Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia also paid tribute to him after news of his death emerged.

In a statement, they said: “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."

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