A teenager in Texas is facing a felony charge after allegedly killing a rival competitor’s show goat a couple of months ago.
According to an arrest affidavit reported by CBS Austin, 17-year-old Aubrey Vanlandingham, who participates in livestock shows with her own goat, confessed to poisoning Willy, a goat owned by a younger fellow competitor.
Vanlandingham is accused of using a drench gun to administer a toxic pesticide to Willy in the barn facility of Vista Ridge High School on Oct. 23. The poisoning resulted in the death of the 6-month-old goat, as captured by security footage which showed Willy attempting to flee the encounter.
The report stated that the teenager was observed leaving Willy and returning twice within a two-hour span before contacting the rival competitor’s mother to inform her about the deteriorating condition of the goat.
A police investigation into Vanlandingham’s phone revealed that she allegedly searched for information on lethal doses of bleach for animals and poisoning methods, according to CBS Austin. She also allegedly searched “how to clear search history.”
The 15-year-old’s mother determined Vanlandingham’s alleged crime was fueled by jealousy, not cheating.
“You can’t even cheat when it comes to showing goats,” she told the DailyMail. “It makes no sense, so that’s where the jealousy really kind of falls into place.”
Goats arriving at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Houston, Texas. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Vanlandingham was charged with cruelty to livestock animals, which is a felony in Texas punishable by up to two years in prison. She was arrested on Nov. 22 and released on a $5,000 bond the same day, jail records show.
Her court date is set for Jan. 15.
