Woman, three teens charged in animal torture investigation involving deer and other wildlife in 3 counties

By the WDJT Web Team; Adam Rife

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FOND DU LAC COUNTY, Wis. (WDJT) — An animal poaching investigation spanning Fond du Lac, Northern Washington and Dodge counties has led to the arrest of a 36-year-old woman. years old and three boys aged 16.

According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, over the past two months, authorities have investigated allegations of killings and mistreatment of white-tailed deer and other wildlife in an area of ​​200 miles between Campbellsport, Waucousta, Lomira, Theresa, West Bend, and Kewaskum.

Paul Collins, state director of Animal Wellness Action, told us: “It’s just pure sadism. There is nothing redeeming about anything these people have done.

Through the investigation, authorities have reason to believe that more than 100 deer were shot or killed between late spring 2023 and July 2024.

Authorities have identified three suspects believed to be involved: three 16-year-old Campbellsport boys and a 36-year-old Campbellsport woman.

The sheriff’s office said the suspects were driving around at night with a spotlight illuminating fields and when they spotted a deer, they fired a rifle from the vehicle at the deer. Most of the slaughtered deer would be left to rot where they lay. However, officials say some deer’s heads were removed, particularly when they had large antlers.

Other deer, according to the sheriff’s office, were shot but not killed.

Collins said: “I’m already getting messages from people asking if I’ve heard of it. So it’s going to start making – obviously – it’s going to start making headlines.

Authorities determined the suspects would also be driving with the intent of hitting deer with their vehicle on the road.

In one case, authorities say the deer survived the impact of their vehicle, but was seriously injured by the impact. The suspects picked up the deer and placed it in the trunk of their vehicle while recording videos and taking “selfies” with the deer. Officials say one of the videos shows the suspects holding the deer, still alive but clearly in pain, as they walked around inside their home.

Rich Schools, a deer hunter from Sussex, said: “Clearly these people have not been taught any ethics. »

Schools added: “The hunting community I know would not tolerate any of this behavior. This simply would not be tolerated.

In another incident this spring, authorities said they found a newborn fawn along the road and captured it. The fawn was also placed in a vehicle and driven, taken inside their residence, and then released into the wild.

Authorities believe deer are not the only animals targeted by these suspects. Officials say evidence obtained leads them to believe the suspects also targeted and harassed other wildlife, including geese, raccoons, opossums and turtles.

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources referred numerous charges to the Fond du Lac County Prosecutor’s Office, the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office and the Juvenile Reception Fond du Lac County.

Although charges are still being filed, Collins is concerned that penalties are not always enforced in Wisconsin.

Collins said, “You can have all the sanctions in the world, but if the district attorney’s offices want to play, let’s make a deal with these people, it’s no deterrent.” »

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