"Bath Salts" to blame for W.Va. man killing neighbor's goat?
(CBS/WOWK) Charleston, W.Va. - A West Virginia man is charged with felony animal cruelty for killing his neighbor's pygmy goat, and he told authorities he was high on "bath salts" - designer hallucinogens - when he did it, reported CBS affiliate WOWK.
Neighbors and witnesses told police they entered Mark Thompson's Alum Creek residence Monday morning and found the dead animal lying on the floor, with Thompson, 19, standing half naked and wearing women's undergarments, according to police.
Thompson told police he had been high on bath salts for three days, which he blamed for his behavior, WOKW reported.
Certain bath salts are considered a synthetic drug that a person can shoot up or snort. According to officials at Logan Mingo Mental Health, the use of bath salts is a way to get high, and is becoming a popular trend.Deputies went to Thompson's home after a neighbor, Lisa Powers, called 911 claiming Thompson had murdered her grandson's pet pigmy goat, reports the Charleston Daily Mail.
Thompson then fled to some nearby woods before authoritiese could arrive, police said. Thompson later returned and told police he had been high on the so-called bath salts.
Thompson was taken into custody by Adult Protective Services, and is reportedly being held on $50,000 bail.
According to healthybodydaily.com, designer drug "bath salts" are considered a hallucinogen and consumption can result in side effects including paranoid delusions, causing some to see grotesque visions. Other side effects, including anxiety and paranoia, can last several days after consumption, the site says.