17-year-old accused of killing another high schooler’s goat by poisoning it with pesticide
CEDAR PARK, Texas (Gray News) - A Texas high school student is accused of killing another high schooler’s goat by force-feeding it pesticide. She allegedly told police she did so because the goat’s keeper “is a cheater.”
Aubrey Vanlandingham, a 17-year-old student at Vista Ridge High School, is charged with cruelty to livestock animals after she allegedly killed another teenager’s goat. Both Vanlandingham and the goat’s keeper were part of the Future Farmers of America organization, according to KXAN.
The alleged incident happened Oct. 23 at the high school’s barn in Cedar Park, Texas, where police say security video shows a student giving a toxic pesticide to a goat named Willie. The goat died about 21 hours later after experiencing symptoms including convulsions and respiratory distress, KEYE reports.
An affidavit filed by a Wiliamson County detective in November states that the goat’s cause of death was confirmed to be intoxication from a kind of pesticide known as phosmet, according to The New York Times.
Vanlandingham originally denied responsibility for the goat’s death but later confessed to having fed it pesticide, the affidavit said. She allegedly told the detective the goat’s keeper “is a cheater,” and she “doesn’t like cheaters.”
The affidavit also said the 17-year-old’s phone records showed she had searched multiple pesticides and phrases such as “can straight bleach kill goats,” “how much bleach kills a goat,” and “how to clear search history,” as reported by The New York Times.
Police say Vanlandingham admitted this was her second attempt to poison the goat, KEYE reports.
Vanlandingham was arrested Nov. 22 and later posted a $5,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 15.
Cruelty to livestock animals is a felony and carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a $10,000 penalty, according to The New York Times.
The Texas FFA Association provided the following statement:
“The Texas FFA Association positively impacts members by fostering a culture of accountability that emphasizes the highest standards of leadership and ethics. Through our programs, Texas FFA and agricultural science education encourage individuals to lead with integrity, make ethical decisions, and uphold the organization’s core values. Chapters are encouraged to use learning standards that address the welfare and safe handling of animals, and those skills are reinforced through the student’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). Members are encouraged to demonstrate ethical behavior in all activities, from competitions to community service. Texas FFA does not condone any behavior that compromises ethical standards, animal welfare, or the integrity of its programs. This commitment to accountability shapes the character of our members, preparing them to be exemplary leaders who positively impact the agricultural industry and beyond.”
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