| Updated: 8/16/2011 11:11 pm |
Published: 8/16/2011 3:09 pm
|
Two teens are arrested for killing a herd of cattle with a bow and arrows.
On Tuesday, Traton Vanderpool, 19, and Jared Barlass, 19, of Broken Arrow turned themselves into the Rogers County Sheriff after accusations they shot nine head of cattle in Oologah on August 9th.
Originally there were five cattle killed but an injured cow later died. Another cow was found with an arrow in her leg and a pregnant cow that was shot lost her calf.
The Branen family has the cattle for show.
They named them Prissy, Mini Pearl and Skunky.
"You get to know them. They are not a number 23, they have names, almost every cow out here has a name,” says 12-year-old Lyndee Branen.
Her sister had a cow named Lacy.
“She was the lead cow, so she was Boss Man. You could get her to go where you wanted to go and everyone would follow,” says 16-year-old Michaela Branen.
However, August 9th, Lacy and two other pregnant cows were killed and another was later found shot in the leg. She gave birth to a calf Tuesday morning.
"I am missing her [Lacy] and she is irreplaceable,” says Michaela Branen.
The cattle were shot with a bow and arrows allegedly by Vanderpool and Barlass.
"I don't think they understood how big the cows are in our lives. I think they just thought they are just raising them for hamburgers,” says Lyndee Branen.
Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association John Cummings caught up with the 19-year-olds.
He says the teens were avid hunters who decided to go out for target practice.
"We started getting information that led us to believe they had access to some property out there in the area through some relatives,” says Cummings.
Still Michaela Branen says it’s been a stressful week.
"I'm honestly still trying to get over it,” says Michaela Branen.
Lyle Blakley says he’s not mad but disappointed.
"Why? I guess Why? What do you say? Why?” says Blakley.
He lost a bull and two cows, one that was shot later died and another pregnant mom that was shot lost her embryo calf.
"I expected the two cows to be fine, I really did but they just never got any better,” says Blakley.
The money making bull is still injured.
"Those people liked him a lot and I was hoping to sell him,” says Blakley. "I've treated them for a lot of things but never an arrow."
While investigators were working leads, 98.5 KVOO shared FOX23 News’ story and big donations poured in.
Local veterinarian, Dr. Kim Huckaby donated a cow for 4-H.
"Very humbling experience,” says Steve Branen.
She also donated $1,250 for the Branen girls’ college fund.
"You have to find those good people. There are bad people out there but there are good people too,” says Michaela Branen.
It’s a relief to have the culprits caught but the father of the Branen’s say the accused shooters took away memories.
"Some innocence was lost on this deal, it was taken away and it will not be back,” says Steve Branen.
The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association put up a $1,000 reward and the Human Society put up a $2,500 reward.
There were also a few more donors which brought the total to $4,500 reward.
Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton says if they accept the reward the reward will paid out to several tipsters.
Vanderpool and Barlass bonded out on $22,500 bond today.
Each are facing nine counts of animal cruelty. Each count carries a five-year prison sentence.
