In Rogers County, an investigation is underway following the illegal butchering of a calf. It happened near Chelsea. The calf was about 600 pounds and was nine months old. The animal was shot, pulled to the road, skinned, and the meat was stolen. Rogers County Sheriff's Office says the people that did this were trained and this isn't their first time. But the owner of the calf says it's frustrating.
"It upsets me. That's the way I make my living. I don't have a job at American Airlines or Centerilift. This is what I do," says calf owner, Rob Bacon.
The calf was worth about a thousand dollars. Bacon says he would understand if someone needed the meat to feed a family that was down on their luck but he says that's not the case.
"The lick is somebody was too lazy to work but wasn't to lazy to come out here in the middle of the night and shoot my calf," says Bacon.
He says the worst part for him is not the fact that is was a thousand dollars now. It's his source of income that is hit for a year.
"I have to keep her mother now another year. I have to pay my feed bill, a hay bill, a grass bill, and I won't get a paycheck now for another 12 months," says Bacon.
Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton says they aren't just looking for one person.
"I don't think any one person can drag a 550 to 600 pound animal that distance," says Sheriff Walton.
Sheriff Walton says they suspect it will be two to four people, who have knowledge on skinning and quartering an animal. He says since a lot of the animal was gone it doesn't leave much evidence but they do suspect a bone saw and knife was used. Sheriff Walton says the people that did this could face a number of charges including, grand larceny or felony trespassing.
"I think we will send the message that thugs don't need to be harvesting meat from people trying to earn a living," says Walton.
Bacon says he will start paying more attention but can't sleep out there all the time. So, he hopes anyone with information will come forward.
"Just hope they don't do it again," says Bacon.
If you have information, call the Rogers County Sheriff's Office Tip Line at 918-341-36-20. The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is offering a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest or indictment of suspects in this case.
