Source: Multiple
“They tried to burn the place down…”
Rick De Los Santos, owner of Valley Meat Co. in Roswell, stands in the slaughterhouse where he plans to butcher horses for the foreign meat market. (PAT VASQUEZ-CUNNINGHAM/JOURNAL)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. • Arsonists set fire to the southeastern New Mexico company that planned to resume domestic horse slaughter next week, the company’s owner said Tuesday.
“They tried to burn the place down,” Valley Meat Co. owner Rick De Los Santo said Tuesday in reference to opponents who have been making threats against the company over the past year as it has fought the federal government for permission to convert its cattle operations into a horse slaughterhouse.
Chaves County officials told the Roswell Daily Record they are investigating what they characterized as a “very suspicious” blaze.
Sheriff Rob Coon did not immediately return phone calls Tuesday, but in the past, he has expressed concern about potential trouble at the Roswell plant.
Attempts by companies like Valley Meat Co. to resume domestic horse slaughter have ignited an emotional national debate that has resulted in a string of threats against De Los Santos, his family and his business.
“We have had some say, ‘I hope your building burns down,’” De Los Santos said. “That’s not good at all. What are they going to do next? Take a pot shot at us when we are walking in?”
On Saturday, De Los Santos said someone apparently jumped the fence, then poured accelerant over the compressors to his refrigeration unit. A passer-by alerted authorities.
“The fire inspector was out there,” De Los Santos said. “He took samples of the dirt and stuff just to make sure. But he said this was something that was not done by electricity or lightning. He said something was poured on it to light it.”
De Los Santos says the company will be unable to open as planned Monday without a working refrigeration unit.
The company also goes to federal court Friday to fight attempts by The Humane Society of the United States and other groups to block the opening of Valley Meat and another recently approved horse slaughterhouse in Iowa.
Related Articles
- Permit denied for NM horse slaughter company (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Letter to Editor Questions Horse Slaughter Plant in Iowa (rtfitchauthor.com)
Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
So what part of We Do Not Want You Here do they not get? Never had these problems as a cattle slaughter plant? Well, stick to cattle then.
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I have to admit, my first thought when I read this story was that he did it himself.
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OMG theres that Photo again !!!!!! the one that sends my stomach into GAG………It must be the only one available of that horse slaughter disgusting dude……………………….. Boo Hoo for him cant find even one comforting word for him !!!!! Clearly inside job , blaming every one else !!!Insurance fraud investigators will solve this one , they know an inside job when they see one !!!!!!!!! It would be awesome to see an arrest and a conviction soon !!!!!!!!
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You bet it.It must be an inside job.If you can’t kill something for money try insurance fraud!
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I’ve said it in public and I’ll say it again. With the surveillance cameras he has, only he could have done it. Why would it take a passerby to alert him to a fire. It is my firm belief that Rick De los Santos is the perpetrator. He is a criminal after all.
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Dont worry Insurance fraud investigators are no dummies !!!!!
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Perhaps he won’t be able to open because he will be in jail for insurance fraud and arson.
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You just dont mess with insurance companies,he will find himself behind bars !!!!!!!
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I would be the farm that it was an inside job. Especially if you are facing a Federal Court judge and need some sympathy for the Devil. “Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m a man of wealth and taste……”
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Yeah we all know what happened….. Disgusting ploy RIGHT before the court date how convenient is that ???? Aren’t we all SO SICK of this guy……. GO AWAY
I WISH SOMEONE WOULD FIX THIS SITE SO WE CAN READ IT BETTER???? THANKS
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It is good that he can not open the slaughtering plant…If anyone wants to slaughter horses and burros, they should move to a Country that eats them !
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Shirley I SO agree with you let this guy go somewhere else maybe to Europe.
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From our local news, as of July 31 it stated the place will open as planned after fixing up the arson burning. I just hope and pray it does not. This guy needs to go back to where he came out of. He is a pathetic person for a human being. Maybe the town and its waste management is the next step in shutting him down. Also on last nights news the Navajo Indians want their feral horses removed and are backing this horrible guy, They are saying the horses are using up the water supply there on the Nation, NOW can you imagine this one…..again its money and greed.
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Insurance fraud can get you 3 meals and a cot.
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My thoughts exactly. 🙂 He’s already a two-time felon?
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I am so sick of hearing about this guy I WANNA VOMIT!!!
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So has he cleaned up the little pile of burnt grass yet? Or will he leave it for two years like the 15 foot high mountains of rotting flesh and carcasses he left along the South Springs River for two years??? Really, did the fBI investigate? Was it a cordoned-off crime scene? Or just Ricardo and a few gullible firemen while he ran in circles and cried “fire!’
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He should have set himself on fire instead.
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Now were talking !!!!!!
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I too wish the writing was clearer. It’s gray on very faint white on my computer. So hard to read.
As for de los Santo–can we try to find a pic of him that isn’t quite so grotesque. I mean the guy is gross anyways–but I’d prefer to keep my stomach acids in my tummy and not all over the computer! He definitely isn’t cute…
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Dear Margaret !!!!!! I agree once you send your post the words go dark and you cant read it, so unless you wrote it and know what you said, you can read it !!!! As for the face of death that sends a million chills up your spine and sends you up chucking to the powder room, I cant even look at him and wish I would never have to view him ever again !!!!!!!!!!!!! Although I wouldnt ,ind so much if he was on the back of a milk carton…….
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80% of American’s are against horse slaughter. Are they going to lay down and play dead or stand up and voice their opinion. Its time to stand up and let your voice be heard.
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I keep wondering also , when are these 80% are going to Stand Up and put the hammer down !!!!! This is America the People rule !!!!!! But they must do it Now !!!!!!!!!!! United We Stand , divided we Fall ……. the Mustangs are the single most important issue in America Today !!!!!! Lets just United and get this done once and for all, and move toward there safe keeping , insure their Land , it is theirs , put them Back Darn it !!!!! It is so simple !!!!!!
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The piece of equipment that this creature, that should have died at birth, is holding looks like a bolt gun. The way its shaped it couldn’t be anything else.
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Good news:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20130802/us-horse-slaughter/?utm_hp_ref=homepage&ir=homepage
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