A teenager in Texas, Aubrey Vanlandingham, is facing a felony charge after allegedly killing a rival competitor’s show goat. The arrest affidavit showed that Vanlandingham, who competes in livestock shows with her own goat, admitted to poisoning Willy, a younger competitor’s goat, using a toxic pesticide. Security footage allegedly showed the goat attempting to escape the encounter, and Vanlandingham was seen leaving Willy and returning to check on him multiple times before contacting the rival competitor’s mother to inform her that the goat was not doing well. Willy died within 24 hours in his owner’s arms after experiencing convulsions and respiratory distress due to organophosphate intoxication from the pesticide phosmet. Vanlandingham admitted to killing her rival’s goat because she believed the 15-year-old competitor was a cheater.
The mother of the 15-year-old girl expressed that Vanlandingham did not appear to be remorseful for her actions and emphasized the importance of justice being served. She stated that they wanted to ensure that Vanlandingham was punished for her actions and held accountable. A police investigation into Vanlandingham’s phone revealed that she had allegedly searched for information on lethal doses of bleach for animals and poisoning methods, as well as how to clear search history. The 15-year-old’s mother believed that Vanlandingham’s crime was fueled by jealousy rather than actual cheating, as cheating was not possible in showing goats. Vanlandingham was charged with cruelty to livestock animals, which is a felony in Texas punishable by up to two years in prison. She was arrested on Nov. 22 and released on a $5,000 bond the same day, with her court date set for Jan. 15.
The incident involving Vanlandingham killing the rival competitor’s goat has caused outrage and shock in the local community. The mother of the 15-year-old girl emphasized the need for Vanlandingham to take ownership of her actions and receive appropriate consequences. She stated that they wanted Vanlandingham to go to jail and receive mental help, as they felt that she did not believe she would be punished for her crime. The mother expressed that the situation was bizarre and that they were determined to see justice served for the death of Willy. The search history found on Vanlandingham’s phone further incriminated her in the intentional poisoning of the goat, highlighting the premeditated nature of the crime.
The troubling nature of Vanlandingham’s actions and the calculated manner in which she carried out the poisoning of Willy have raised concerns about her mental state and potential risk to others. The search history on her phone indicated a potential pattern of behavior related to harming animals, as she had allegedly looked up information on lethal doses of bleach and poisoning methods. The mother of the 15-year-old girl suggested that jealousy may have been a significant motivating factor in the crime, as it seemed irrational to accuse the 15-year-old competitor of cheating in a showing goats competition. The community has been left reeling from the incident, with many expressing shock and disbelief at the cruelty displayed by Vanlandingham in killing Willy.
As the case against Vanlandingham progresses, the focus remains on seeking justice for the tragic death of Willy and ensuring that Vanlandingham is held accountable for her actions. The severity of the charges she faces, including a felony for cruelty to livestock animals, reflects the gravity of the offense committed. The court date set for Jan. 15 will be a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings, where Vanlandingham will have to answer for her role in Willy’s death. The community continues to grapple with the implications of the incident, particularly in terms of addressing issues of animal cruelty and ensuring that such acts are appropriately punished to prevent future harm.
