OWEN COUNTY — The owner of SuPaca Farms in Gosport has pleaded not guilty to charges after 28 dead alpacas were found on the property earlier this year.
Sue Childers, 77, of Indianapolis faces charges of cruelty to an animal and failure to properly dispose of a dead animal.
According to an affidavit, a necropsy found that one of the alpacas named Harriet was emaciated.
Deputies say other animals were in poor health and severely malnourished. Seven alpacas, three llamas, nine dogs, three chickens, and two horses were seized from the property and taken to the Owen County Humane Society.
The affidavit says Childers told investigators she thought bobcats were killing and eating her alpacas but later thought they were poisoned.
"Sue advised that at some point during the summer/fall of 2021 she lost of large number other heard. She believed them to have been poisoned and stated that she came to that conclusion because the alpacas had died in a large group together," the affidavit read.
Childers also said that she stopped visiting the farm daily in February 2021 after getting COVID-19. She didn't start visiting again on a regular basis until the fall of 2021.
Childers is out on bond and she has pleaded not guilty, online court records show. A jury trial is scheduled for June 7.
-
Economist weighs in after Governor Braun signs property tax relief bill into law
Governor Braun signed Senate Bill 1 into law Tuesday after lawmakers. Find out what this could mean for your property tax bill
Indy DPW: 157,000 potholes filled so far this year, working on thousands more
Indy's Department of Public Works said crews are working ten-hour shifts this week and next week— weather permitting— to make roads smoother.
Execution date set for man convicted of killing Beech Grove Officer
Benjamin Ritchie is scheduled to be executed on May 20, 2025 for the 2000 murder of officer William Toney.
"Swerve, duck and dodge': Haughville residents say potholes plague neighborhood
Haughville resident say potholes are interfering with their daily commutes. Indy DPW said the department has received around 8,200 more pothole reports this year, compared to this time last year.
