OWEN COUNTY — The owner of SuPaca Farms in Gosport has pleaded not guilty to charges after 28 dead alpacas were found on the property earlier this year.
Sue Childers, 77, of Indianapolis faces charges of cruelty to an animal and failure to properly dispose of a dead animal.
According to an affidavit, a necropsy found that one of the alpacas named Harriet was emaciated.
Deputies say other animals were in poor health and severely malnourished. Seven alpacas, three llamas, nine dogs, three chickens, and two horses were seized from the property and taken to the Owen County Humane Society.
The affidavit says Childers told investigators she thought bobcats were killing and eating her alpacas but later thought they were poisoned.
"Sue advised that at some point during the summer/fall of 2021 she lost of large number other heard. She believed them to have been poisoned and stated that she came to that conclusion because the alpacas had died in a large group together," the affidavit read.
Childers also said that she stopped visiting the farm daily in February 2021 after getting COVID-19. She didn't start visiting again on a regular basis until the fall of 2021.
Childers is out on bond and she has pleaded not guilty, online court records show. A jury trial is scheduled for June 7.
-
Prevention is key to preventing Lyme disease, advocates say
LeAnne Barta co-founded the non-profit Indiana Lyme Connect and is teaching Hoosiers how to avoid ticks and what to do if one bites you.Bid for MLS team takes first step forward, Indy Eleven fans support Eleven Park
The Metropolitan Development Commission voted to create an additional Professional Sports Development Area in Indianapolis — an early step in the process to bring an MLS expansion team to the city.Noblesville providing aid to downtown businesses amid State Road 32 construction
The "Hard Hat Resiliency Grant" will award a total of $35,500 to businesses impacted by the construction.City, IMPD to distribute free gun locks to Marion County residents on Thursday
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and law enforcement officials will be distributing free gun locks Thursday, May 2 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Villa Del Sol Apartments, located at 3636 Mission Drive.