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SYRACUSE — Investigators say four horses found dead in July were not shot to death as originally believed, but rather died of dehydration.
The horses were found dead by the owner's son in their corral, 4000 W. 3000 South in Syracuse, on July 15. The horses were last seen alive on July 12. Because of the types of injuries visible on the horses, it was believed that they had all been shot, said Davis County Sheriff's Sgt. DeeAnn Servey.
But now, based on evidence gathered by Animal Control officers with the assistance of veterinarians, investigators now say the horses actually died of dehydration.
"The visual of the horses laying on the ground with the blood and decomposition of the horses was consistent with what they thought was going to be gunshot wounds," Survey said. "It wasn't until they gave all the evidence to experts, being veterinarians and Animal Control, that they said, 'No, this wasn't gunshot wounds, this was actually dehydration, and the visible wounds you thought were gunshots was actually decay. The horses were decaying from the hot sun they were laying in.'"
The horses were locked in the corral with no water source, she said. Because it is unclear whether the caretaker accidentally locked them in the corral or whether someone else locked the gate or even if the horses accidentally bumped it and closed it, the Davis County Attorney's Office has declined to file charges, Servey said.
We are left with insufficient evidence to support criminal charges against anyone. The case is considered closed at this time.
–Sheriff's office
"We are left with insufficient evidence to support criminal charges against anyone. The case is considered closed at this time," the sheriff's office said in a prepared statement.
"(Prosecutors) couldn't narrow it down to one specific person as to why this gate was closed," Servey added. "Exactly who closed the gate, we don't have an answer to that."
Servey said it was unknown exactly when the horses died or whether they possibly went longer than three days without water.
"It's hard to narrow down exactly when the horses went without water. All we can go on is what we saw and the documentation we had when we showed up on scene," she said.
