An Indiana family is looking for answers after finding two of their horses shot to death last week on their property.
According to a GoFundMe started by Karen Ladwig Phillips, someone came on to the family’s property near Bainbridge on Sunday, July 1 while they slept and killed the registered quarter horses that were shown by Phillips’ son and another girl.
“My 15 year old son’s mare Kat was 6-years-old and he has been training her since she was 3-years-old. They were just beginning to be an amazing team and had an awesome future ahead of them,” Phillips said on her GoFundMe story. “She had an extraordinary bond with her boy and often fell asleep on his shoulder or in his lap.”
The second mare was fondly called Mama “because she took care of everyone.” Twenty-two years old and retired from a reining career, Mama had just adopted a little girl and were working on being a competitive contesting team.
“Mama could be a little standoffish, but not when her little girl was in sight,” Phillips said. “She followed her everywhere.”
Both horses were going to be shown later this month at the Putnam County Fair.
The family is awaiting final necropsy results from Purdue University and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has opened a criminal investigation into the matter.
In the meantime, the family is raising award money in the “hopes of flushing these people out.” According to Phillips, evidence points to up to three people being involved.
“Someone who can do the things that were done to these horses, is capable of much worse and they need to be removed from society before they hurt someone else,” Phillips said.
Phillips said the reward will be posted and awarded to anyone providing information leading to arrest and conviction of one or all persons involved. If no reward is claimed the money will be diverted to veterinary bills and other expenses the families have incurred during this time. So far, the GoFundMe has raised $4,355.
