A racehorse found dead on Tuesday in northwest Indiana, the day before it was to race at Balmoral Park, was not killed with a gun as originally thought, but by a "captive bolt gun," a necropsy has found.
Lake County Sheriff's police found Lady May Z shot between the eyes about 7 p.m. Tuesday in a pasture near the corner of 245th Avenue and Colfax Street in Lowell, Ind., according to the sheriff's office.
The 8-year-old standard bred trotting horse was scheduled to race Wednesday at Balmoral Park in south suburban Crete.
A necropsy performed by a forensic veterinary pathologist at Purdue University's Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory determined the death was the result of blunt force trauma to the brain from a captive bolt gun – a device used in processing plants to stun and kill livestock to be slaughtered, the sheriff's office said.
Investigators initially thought the horse was shot with a bullet.
The suspect would have had to hold the device up to the horse's forehead and depressed the trigger, sheriff's police said. They believe the suspect may have prior experience in the meat processing industry.
Sheriff's Det. Michelle Dvorscak said the owners had other racehorses on the property, located in a secluded rural area, but no other horses were injured.
Anyone with information should call Dvorscak at (219) 755-3346, or call anonymously at (800) 750-2746.
Saturday, May 18 2013 11:26 PM EDT2013-05-19 03:26:02 GMT
Seven juveniles were arrested Saturday night after police responded to groups of teens running through traffic around North Michigan Avenue on the Gold Coast.
Seven juveniles were arrested Saturday night after police responded to groups of teens running through traffic around North Michigan Avenue on the Gold Coast.
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:12 PM EDT2013-05-19 02:12:56 GMT
Three men were killed and at least 10 other people were hurt -- including a 12-year-old boy left in critical condition -- in shootings around the city since Friday night.
Three men were killed and at least 10 other people were hurt -- including a 12-year-old boy left in critical condition -- in shootings around the city since Friday night.
Friday, May 17 2013 10:37 PM EDT2013-05-18 02:37:06 GMT
On Friday, the current Chicago Teacher's Union President Karen Lewis announced that she has been re-elected and says she won with 80 percent of the vote.
On Friday, the current Chicago Teacher's Union President Karen Lewis announced that she has been re-elected and says she won with 80 percent of the vote.
