'Psychopath' Kills 920 Chickens With Golf Club At Foster Farms Plant Near Fresno
CARUTHERS, Fresno County (KPIX 5) – Authorities in the Central Valley are searching for at least one intruder who clubbed more than 900 chickens to death at a Foster Farms plant near Fresno.
According to investigators, 920 chickens were beaten to death with golf clubs in an incident at the Caruthers plant on September 20th. "Psychopathic behavior, it's sick behavior. And people who will do this, it can definitely lead to other things," said Deputy Chris Curtice of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office.
Police said there was probably more than one suspect. Workers found the massacred poultry around 8:30 that morning.
"It's crazy that someone would break into the chicken shed to kill them. It's just crazy," said Foster Farms employee Antonio Puentes.
Foster Farms released a statement, calling the crime an "unconscionable act of animal cruelty."
"This appears to be a random act of violence. It is the express policy of Foster Farms to treat its birds humanely and with compassion. Any intentional act to the contrary is unacceptable," the statement read.
Foster Farms estimates the loss at about $5,000. But it's the abject cruelty of the crime that alarms the company and detectives.
"You can't do that much damage to animals and not have blood on your clothing. We want to find out who they are and get them off the street," Curtice said.
Investigators said they found a piece of a golf club, and they believe another weapon was used as well.
There is now a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.