Photos: PETA Pushes DA to Act Over Horses Believed Killed on Bike Trail

Time for Transparency in Police Investigation Into How the Two Animals Died

For Immediate Release:
September 30, 2020

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

This morning, PETA is releasing photos and calling on Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to release the findings from the investigation into how two horses, whose bodies were found on the San Gabriel River Trail in April, met their end. PETA was alerted to the bodies and went to the location to take photos, which were then turned over to local police and are now being made public. The police department’s Major Crimes Division later forwarded the findings from its investigation to Lacey, who apparently has yet to take any action on the case.

“These horses appear to have been taken to a deserted area and violently killed at that spot,” says PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. “The pain and fear of their final moments is sickening to contemplate, and PETA is now calling on the DA to be transparent and asking why, after six long months, their killer has not been held accountable.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

PETA’s letter to Lacey follows.

September 30, 2020

The Honorable Jackie Lacey

District Attorney

Los Angeles County

Dear Ms. Lacey,

I hope this letter finds you well. I’m writing to urge your office to release the findings of the investigation into two horses who were found dead—likely shot and possibly stabbed—on the San Gabriel River Trail near Pico Rivera on April 20 and, if appropriate, file charges against those responsible.

The day of the incident, PETA was alerted by a Los Angeles resident that the bodies of two horses had been found on this trail. We immediately sent representatives to the site. Photos taken there are attached.

It appeared that both horses were males. Neither had lip tattoos. One of them had a green racing leg wrap on one leg, and there were numerous hoof tracks leading to the site. One horse’s throat was slit, while the other had blood coming from his head and a wound on his rear inner right thigh. PETA contacted the local police department, and we were in turn contacted by the Major Crimes Division, which indicated that an investigation had been launched. We were later informed that the division had turned over the results of its investigation to your office.

On behalf of our 700,000 members and supporters in California, we respectfully request that you either file charges against suspected perpetrators or release full information about this case.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,

Kathy Guillermo

Senior Vice President

Equine Matters Department