Press Releases - The Humane Society and Adoption Center at PAWS

Authorities investigate goat's death

Copyright 2007 Northwest Florida Daily News

By: Mladen Rudman

January 23, 2007

Crestview — A female goat found dead near the Okaloosa-Walton county line Saturday may have been sexually assaulted, according to lawmen and the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society.

PAWS director of animal services, Dee Thompson-Poirrier, described the crime scene off U.S. Highway 98 as "brutal."

The goat's death was suspicious but there was no evidence it was the victim of a ritualistic animal sacrifice, she said.

The incident was reported by the goat's owner, a Crestview couple, according to authorities. They couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

Responders used a rape kit provide by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office to preserve evidence in line with crime scene standards.

"It was the only clean way we knew of to get a specimen," Thompson-Poirrier said.

Semen was found inside the goat, but PAWS is still trying to find a laboratory that could quickly process the sample because the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is backlogged.

Although the semen hasn't been proven as human, Thompson-Poirrier and a veterinarian who examined the goat want the semen tested and compared to the state's convicted felon database.

"The goat owner does not have male goats (anymore), and the goat wasn't in heat," Thompson-Poirrier said. She added the large goat was pregnant.

It has since been necropsied, and tissue samples, which should help determine a cause of death, were taken. The goat will be cremated.

A human suspect has been tentatively identified, but police haven't made an arrest yet, according to Thompson-Poirrier and lawmen.

She said the incident, which would be a felony because the animal died, is being taken seriously.

"We're concerned that an individual who can do this can escalate into doing something worse." she said.