UTAH CATTLE CRIMES

Something very strange is going on in Utah. A number of cattle have recently been killed over multiple locations. Details are sketchy and conflicting. Crime scene photos are not readily available and authorities seem to be stumped as to a motive.

From the Salt Lake Tribune we learn:  Rancher Jay Tanner, who lives in the Grouse Creek area, found a dead cow Wednesday. He thought the death was suspicious — and likely caused by a shooting — because the animal died in an area partially concealed by willows trees, and said that while it showed signs of being eaten by a predator, the wounds weren’t at “a normal starting point on the carcass.”

Mr. Tanner has released a photo of the slaughtered cow which is posted here. From this photo the cow's wounds bare a striking resemblance to many of the cattle mutilation victims.

 "Cattle and agricultural officials in Utah are offering a $2,000 reward for information that helps solve “malicious cattle deaths” that have occurred recently in Utah, Iron and Box Elder counties."

We learn of other cattle deaths from KSL.com. "BOX ELDER COUNTY, Utah — There is a disturbing development on several Utah ranches over the last couple of weeks. Somebody is shooting and killing Utah cattle, and ranchers are putting up a cash reward to catch the culprits. It’s not the kind of crime that happens often, but ranchers in four different counties had cattle killed during the last several weeks."

 One of four farmer who lost cattle had this to say, "“The big bull, they shot him in the head,” Mark Mecham told KSL NewsRadio. He said someone shot his longhorn bull, valued around $5,000, and a calf two weeks ago on his ranch in Mayfield."

It is important to note that there were multiple cattle deaths across three counties with no apparent connection.  "State officials told FOX 13 they had no information to suggest the shootings were related."

The case takes a strange turn when we learn, "Investigators say one cow was killed in Garfield County, while three others died in Iron County.It appears all four may have been killed with crossbows, although the use of rifles can’t be ruled out in the Iron County incidents."

 It seems as though authorities can not even say with certainty how the cattle were killed. With multiple cash rewards offered perhaps we will eventually hear about some leads into who or what may have done this. As a side note we might remember that Utah is also home to the infamous Skin Walker Ranch.