March 7, 2009 - 11:19 PM
Sara Perkins
The Monitor
RIO GRANDE CITY — The animal bodies strewn around the property, some mutilated, appeared to have been the discarded toys of someone with a sick sense of fun.
They stomped on the chickens and executed the goats with close-range shotgun blasts to the neck. The peacocks and turkeys were shot with rifles.
It has been nearly two months since Ernesto Garcia arrived at his Starr County ranch to find 34 of his animals dead and strewn around in a gruesome tableau. Despite a hefty reward offered for information in the case, investigators have no leads into the bizarre killings.
"We've been surprised. It's a $1,500 reward and no information at all - nobody trying to claim the money," said Capt. Larry Fuentes of the Starr County Sheriff's Office.
The horrifying scene at the little ranch still puts a shiver in Amada Garcia's voice. Her husband, 70, raised goats, turkeys, chickens and peacocks off Farm-to-Market Road 755, just outside Rio Grande City. The animals were like pets, well cared-for by the retiree, who visited twice a day to feed and clean them.
The morning of Jan. 24, he found only a handful of Boer goats still alive.
"It was a big loss and it was something so cruel to do," Amada Garcia said. "I don't see how they could do something to an animal that hasn't done anything to them."
Family and friends put together the reward money and placed an ad in the Starr County Town Crier.
The Garcias have lived in Rio Grande City all their lives and have children and other family in the area. Amada Garcia said she has ruled out revenge as a motive - they have no enemies.
Rather, she and investigators believe the culprits were likely disturbed, bored teenagers.
"We think this is just a criminal mischief," sheriff's Capt. Fuentes said.
Without any tips coming in, the perpetrators may never be identified. But Garcia worries that her husband could have become a victim, and that the killers were mentally unstable.
"They may have still been there when he arrived). The blood was still fresh," she said.
"They have to be insane - they have to. To me, that doesn't sound like a normal person."
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/leads_23992___article.html/animal_rio.html
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