A beloved goat owned by a suburban Austin high school student died suddenly in October and now the owner's classmate stands accused of using a pesticide to intentionally kill the animal.
Aubrey Vanlandingham, a student at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park, is facing a felony charge of cruelty to livestock in connection with the Oct. 24 death of the goat, named Willie, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The affluent suburb of Cedar Park is roughly 15 miles northeast of Austin and located in Williamson County.
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The 17-year-old teen was arrested on Nov. 22 but later released that same day after posting a $5,000 bond, jail records show. Under state law, the maximum penalty for cruelty to livestock is a fine of up to $10,000 and possible jail time of up to two years.
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According to sheriff's office investigators, the incident was captured on school surveillance cameras at the facility where the goat was kept. And Vanlandingham allegedly confessed to poisoning the goat because she believed Willie's owner "is a cheater," the affidavit said.
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"And Aubrey doesn't like cheaters," the deputy wrote in the document.
News of the crime has gone viral on social media with reports about the goat's death published in news outlets around the world.
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The incident took place on Oct. 23, based on surveillance video seen by investigators. Law enforcement officers were notified two days later, according to the affidavit.
The tape showed Vanlandingham entering the school barn area and retrieving a bottle of pesticide from a storage closet before using a drench gun to administer the toxic substance to the goat.
Investigators said the girl was seen in the video straddling the goat while forcing a tube in its mouth to ingest the chemical, identified by officials as phosmet, a highly lethal insecticide used to control pests on crops.
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The girl returned to the goat's pen several times during the day to check on the animal's condition, according to the affidavit.
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The deputy wrote in the affidavit that Willie began exhibiting severe symptoms shortly after being force fed the chemical, including suffering from convulsions, diarrhea and uncontrollable shaking. The animal was taken to a local veterinary clinic by its owners after being alerted by phone and video sent by Vanlandingham about the goat's condition, according to deputies.
The goat died the following morning and was taken back to the vet's office by a school teacher, the affidavit says.
A necropsy performed on the animal confirmed the presence of phosmet in the goat's stomach. During the necropsy, authorities said the smell of the pesticide was unmistakable and identified it as the primary cause of death, according to the affidavit.
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Police said a search of the suspect's phone by detectives uncovered internet searches related to poisoning animals, including inquiries about using bleach and pesticides.
The Dallas Morning News called Vanlandingham's attorney multiple times for comment Tuesday but could not immediately reach them. The school was on recess until Jan. 6 and administrators there could also not be immediately reached for comment.
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