Case Details

Over 50 animals poisoned with Carbofuan
Madisonville, TN (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006
County: Monroe
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Dennis Plemons

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 7894
Classification: Poisoning
Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), opossum, other wildlife
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Animal was offleash or loose
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According to federal officials, more than 50 animals in Monroe County have died, apparently from exposure to the banned pesticide Carbofuan, also known as Furadan.

Local, state and federal authorities have begun a criminal investigation into the poisonings.

The areas where the contaminated, dead animals were located include the 400 to 600 block of County Farm Road, the 200 to 300 block of Maxwell Road, and Southgate Road in the Lacey Acres Subdivision.

State officials have collected all the animal carcasses and are conducting studies of water and aquatic life in Chestua Creek.

Sandra Hughes lives in Madisonville. Her dog, Nugget, died just a week ago. She says, "A lot of people think it's just an animal, but she was more than that to us. I have a real hard time. I have a real hard time. Like I said, she was our favorite pet. She was one of our family and we miss her."

Joe Pike, a wildlife officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says, "In this area right here we found four possums and one gray fox, a bluebird and a house cat found dead in this general vicinity."

Wildlife officers say this was no accident. They say the animals were poisoned with pesticide.

Pike says, "This material was pulled right out of the jug and injected into or poured onto meat scraps which were scattered around for animals to pick up and eat."

"She was foaming at the mouth, she was weaving, she was not alert she just wouldn't come to us. I just picked her up and ran to the van with her," Hughes says.

At first, she thought Nugget may have anti-freeze in her system. "We were scared. I was crying. The kids were crying."

But when she found out her dog's death was intentional her sadness turned to fear. Hughes says, "It was just not pets that could have been hurt, but humans. My kids play in these fields. There's many kids around here. That was a stupid act."

And now she says she wants officers to catch the suspects. "He took one of our family members and that was low and I hope you pay. Whoever you are I hope you pay."

Wildlife officers say that because migratory birds were killed, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now involved with investigation.

They also say they do have suspects in this case.

Residents should not touch or handle any animal carcass. If anyone touches a carcass, that person's exposed skin should be thoroughly washed with soap and water and clothing should be laundered. Seek medical attention immediately if any signs of headache, nausea, dizziness or other symptoms are experienced.

Call the TWRA with any information at 1-800-831-1174.

If you have information on this case, please contact:
TWRA
1-800-831-1174

Case Updates

A well-known local business man has been indicted by a Monroe County grand jury after he was accused of poisoning dogs and animals south of Madisonville.

Dennis Plemons, 61, Highway 411, Madisonville, was indicted on seven counts of unlawful killing of an animal, three counts of unlawful poisoning of wildlife and unlawful destruction of wildlife.

The indictments state Plemons allegedly killed 12 dogs, 12 opossums, three striped skunks and two gray foxes using the pesticide Carbofuran, also known as Furadan.

Plemons turned himself in at the Monroe County Sheriff?s Office Monday afternoon.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Officer Doug McKenzie brought the charges against Plemons.

"The investigation showed Plemons might have been trying to deal with coyotes or dogs chasing his cattle," McKenzie said. "When the federal charges are released, we'll have a better idea."

McKenzie said it is possible others may be charged in federal court.

The area where the dead animals were located include the 400 to 600 block of County Farm Road, the 200 to 300 block of Maxwell Road, and Southgate Drive in the Lacey Acres subdivision off U.S. Highway 411 South in Monroe County.

McKenzie said Plemons and the owners of the dogs lived in the same neighborhood.

All known animal carcasses that may have been contaminated with Carbofuran were collected. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation also collected water samples, micro-invertebrates, and other aquatic life from Chestua Creek near and downstream from the site of the poisonings. No evidence of contamination of the creek was detected.

If any more dead animals are found near the described area, do not handle them; please call the Monroe County 911 Center at 442-4357 and request that TWRA Wildlife Officer Doug McKenzie be contacted.

Plemons, who sits on the Madisonville Planning Commission, was arrested a couple of years ago after people were caught allegedly deaing drugs at Sideline Bar on Highway 411, a business he was running at the time. All charges against him were dropped in that case.

Before that, he was forced to close down the same business in Madisonville after the city cited him for allowing dancing when the business was not licensed for such activity.
Source: The Monroe County Advocate - June 7, 2006
Update posted on Jun 7, 2006 - 9:44PM 
The situation is so severe, a joint investigation is underway with state and federal law enforcement agencies. Tennessee Wildlife Resource officer Doug McKenzie says someone is using a farm pesticide called Furadan to poison the animals. From dogs and cats to birds and possums, dozens of animals have died so far.

McKenzie says all the deaths have one thing in common. "We have had a lot of the animals tested by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and they have come back positive for Furadan poisoning." Furadan, is a pesticide used in farming. It's so powerful, you need a permit to buy it and use it on your farm. "This Furadan poison is so potent that when an animal eats the poison and dies, another animal comes along and eats that animal and it will die also," McKenzie adds. With the cause of death known, McKenzie is now turning his sights on a motive and a suspect. If you come in contact with Furadan, TWRA recommends you should immediately wash your hands, take a shower, and wash the clothes you were wearing.
Source: WATE6 News - March 31, 2006
Update posted on Mar 31, 2006 - 9:07PM 

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References

WBIR - March 31, 2006

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