Horse News

2 wild horses found shot to death: Heber Wild Horse Territory in Arizona

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SOURCE:  Heber Wild Horses facebook page

A band of Heber Wild Horses look on at the bodies of their dead.

In case there are people who are not aware the Heber Wild Horse Herd is protected by Federal Law. There is a maximum penalty of $100,000 and up to a year in prison for killing a federally protected wild horse.

If anybody has any information on the shootings, please call CAES at 541.315.6650 or private message this Facebook page. Thank you!

****** Wild Horse Shooting Update 10/16/2018 ******

The Black Mesa Ranger District office is not open on weekends. Robin, one of our members, went to the district office yesterday to get the contact information for the Sitgreaves law enforcement officer John Lopez, in order to find out what the current status is on the investigation of the two horses that were shot and killed. Forest Service office staff told Robin that they do not have the phone number for Lopez and they have no way to contact him. (We can only speculate as to whether the Sitgreaves Forest Service is so mismanaged that these important numbers are not available to the staff or whether there was a deliberate lack or cooperation.)

Through other means a phone number was obtained for John Lopez. This morning Robin received a phone call from him. He told her he was unable to give her any information because it is an ongoing investigation and they are working the case. When she asked Mr. Lopez if he could tell her the procedure used to investigate, again he said he was unable to do that because it is an active investigation. She asked if bullets were retrieved from the bodies. He said no information will be given unless an arrest is made.

Previously when Robin had asked Black Mesa District Ranger Richard Madril how investigations of this sort are done he replied,

“We investigate theses incidents as a crime. Scene is investigated, locations of perpetrators, lines of trajectories, or causal factors, and collect any evidence possible. If anything brings identification then it would escalate from there.”

We were told Mr. Lopez had already been to the scene to investigate on Saturday, 10/13/2018. On Sunday, 10/14/2018, a Navajo County Sheriff’s deputy had been there and left just ahead of our team. When our team arrived they took many photos of the bodies. There were no signs the bodies had been scavenged by animals. Rigor had set in and the gasses were building in the bodies causing a bloated effect. The bodies showed no indication an investigation had taken place. There were no signs any bullets had been removed. A metal detector was used which indicated the bullets were still inside the bodies.

 

Categories: Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs

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7 replies »

  2. Has the USFS EVER prosecuted a single horse killer? None that I am aware of despite “ongoing investigations.” Removing the bullets to identify the caliber and often the exact weapon is pretty standard practice, why not here?

    Poaching a deer or elk (or cow) to feed your family will put you in jail, but the value of a wild horse to the USFS is less than the grass they eat. Should be called SHITGRAVES National Forest. That’s what these horses get for our tax dollars.

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  5. Heber Wild Horses (facebook)
    October 16

    In case there are people who are not aware the Heber Wild Horse Herd is protected by Federal Law. There is a maximum penalty of $100,000 and up to a year in prison for killing a federally protected wild horse.
    If anybody has any information on the shootings, please call CAES at 541.315.6650 or private message this Facebook page. Thank you!

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    Reply

  7. Heber Wild Horses Facebook

    Heber Wild Horse Freedom Preservation Alliance members on the scene of the shooting of the two wild horses on 10-14-2018. This heartbreaking video clip captures a band as they look towards the bodies of the young dead stallions.
    We are asking that until an official Forest Service Hotline is set up that all tips go through our national organization, Citizens Against Equine Slaughter, who will send them to the appropriate law enforcement officer. Thank you for your support of our Heber Wild Horse Herd!
    $2,500 REWARD OFFERED FOR ANY INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ACTIONS
    IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION PLEASE CALL CAES @ 541.315.6650. WE WILL KEEP YOUR NAME ANONYMOUS.

    READER COMMENTS

    REWARDS!!! $4,000!!!!!

    Make that $ 4,500!!!!!

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