Someone shot two calves on a farm and mutilated one, sawing off its legs, ripping out its guts and pulling off its shoulders, leaving both dead animals for the owner to find.
"It's a somewhat inhumane, cruel and malicious act," Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson said.
Investigators are looking for any information on the cattle killers. Right now, they don't have a suspect, and they aren't sure what the motivation would be for the crime.
"We're concerned, obviously, that maybe it's someone out there who might do this again," Wilson said. "We want to apprehend the person."
Anyone with tips about who might have killed the calves can call the county's criminal investigation division at 706-638-1909. They can also call Detective Andy Cash at 706-639-0898.
Wilson said the crime occurred on Feb. 13 on a farm on Kensington Road, about half a mile north of State Route 193. It's located near the Dow Reichhold Specialty Latex Plant. Wilson said the owners have asked for anonymity, fearing that more people will attack their cattle if they identify themselves.
He said the owner boarded cattle for feeding. When the owner returned, he found the two calves mutilated. They each weighed about 750 pounds and were worth a combined $3,500.
Investigators canvassed the scene and took a couple of items that they believed might lead them to the cattle slaughterers. Wilson said three or four people qualify as "persons of interest" because they are around the farm frequently. But investigators are just acting off a hunch, not much solid information right now.