A Texas cheerleader is facing animal cruelty charges after allegedly poisoning a classmate's goat.
Aubrey VanLandingham, 17, has been charged with killing a classmate's show goat with pesticide at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park, Texas.
“The incident occurred on October 23rd at the school's barn facility in Cedar Park, where security footage showed a female student using a drench gun to administer a toxic pesticide to goats,” police said. announced. CBS Austin. “The goat, named Willie, developed symptoms including convulsions and difficulty breathing, and died approximately 21 hours later.”
VanLandingham confessed to police that he poisoned the animal because he believed the animal's owner was a “swindler,” according to a police affidavit. Police allege the cheerleader admitted to trying to poison animals before.
“A necropsy performed by a goat pathologist confirmed the cause of death was organophosphate poisoning from phosmet, an insecticide commonly used to control ectoparasites in livestock,” CBS Austin reported.
Authorities said VanLandingham's phone contained searches for how to poison animals and later searches for “how to clear your search history.”
VanLandingham was arrested on Nov. 22 and charged with animal cruelty, a Texas felony. The teenager was released on $5,000 bail the same day he was arrested.
