A Texas teenager faces allegations of murdering a classmate’s show goat by administering pesticide through force-feeding.
Aubrey Vanlandingham, 17, faces felony charges for cruelty to livestock animals, as stated in court records.
According to an arrest affidavit, authorities allege that Vanlandingham used a drench gun to apply pesticide to a goat named Willie at her high school barn in Cedar Park, Texas, back in October.
According to the affidavit, Vanlandingham reportedly recorded a video of the goat and shared it with the animal’s owner.
A day later, the goat passed away, as stated in the affidavit, following convulsions and signs of breathing difficulties. The report indicates that the animal’s death was due to pesticide poisoning, according to the affidavit.
Officials claim that Vanlandingham admitted to the goat’s death, stating she acted out of the belief that the owner’s daughter was a “cheater.”
Vanlandingham reportedly admitted to having attempted to kill the goat before.
Authorities reported that they examined the teenager’s phone and discovered evidence of online searches such as, “How much bleach can kill an animal,” and “poisoning pets, what you should know,” as stated in the affidavit. Vanlandingham reportedly looked up, “How to clear search history.”
The status of Vanlandingham’s plea remains uncertain at this time. Records show she was released after posting a $5,000 bond.
The attorney representing Vanlandingham has not yet replied to a request for comment. The next court appearance for the defendant is set for January 15.