Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Horse found dead - mutilated, eye missing

Case Details

Horse found dead - mutilated, eye missing
Long Prairie, MN (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Nov 3, 2007
County: Todd

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 12632

Classification: Mutilation/Torture

Animal: horse

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Reward: $2,500

Authorities are investigating the killing of an 11-year-old girl's pet horse in central Minnesota.

Katie Symalla discovered her horse Savannah dead in the field by her family's farm in Long Prairie on Saturday.

Katie says Savannah was her "best friend in the whole wide world."

The family last saw Savannah on Friday at 5 p.m., and arrived home Saturday just before 2 p.m.

Katie's mother, Victoria Monti, says whoever killed the horse skinned her face and took her eyeball.

Investigators with the Todd County sheriff's office are trying to figure out who killed the horse, and why.

If you have information on this case, please contact:
sheriff's office
1-800-794-5733

Case Updates

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the recent mutilation of a pony in Long Prairie, Minn. On Nov. 3, Katie Symalla, 11, discovered her palomino pony, Savannah, lying dead in a field on the family's property. According to Todd County Sheriff's Office investigators, the 6-year-old pony's head was found extensively cut. The pony was missing an eyeball, deputies said. A veterinary examination revealed the perpetrator used a sharp instrument to remove all of the soft tissue on the left side of Savannah's face, including the lip, nostril and ear flap. Investigators are looking for a small white pickup truck that was seen the morning the dead pony was discovered.

Anyone with information about the crime should call Todd County Chief Deputy Bryan Tebben at 320-732-2157 or 800-794-5733.

Source: HSUS Press Release - Nov 8, 2007
Update posted on Nov 8, 2007 - 3:57PM

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It's back to square one for Todd County investigators trying to determine who killed an 11-year-old girl's pet horse.

A veterinarian who exhumed and examined the palomino pony says the horse -- named Savannah -- was not killed in a hunting accident, as investigators had speculated.

Sheriff's investigators had called the death a shooting accident and speculated that cuts on the pony's face were the result of the hunter trying to recover the bullet and avoid prosecution.

Savannah was found dead and mutilated in a Long Prairie pasture last Saturday -- the opening day of the firearms deer-hunting season.

Since the pony was the same color as a deer, authorities said a hunting accident seemed the most likely explanation. But the family didn't believe that and arranged for a vet to examine the animal.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the sheriff's office at (320) 732-2157 or 1-800-794-5733.

Source: WKBT - Nov 8, 2007
Update posted on Nov 8, 2007 - 3:55PM

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References

WKBT - Nov 6, 2007

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Case Details

Horse found dead - mutilated, eye missingLong Prairie, MN (US)

Case Updates

References

Horse found dead - mutilated, eye missing
Long Prairie, MN (US)