Texas teen killed rival competitor’s show goat in act of jealousy: report

A shocking incident took place in Texas where a teenager is facing a serious felony charge after allegedly killing a rival competitor’s show goat a few months ago. The accused, 17-year-old Aubrey Vanlandingham, who also competes in livestock shows with her own goat, reportedly admitted to poisoning Willy, the younger competitor’s goat.

According to an arrest affidavit, Vanlandingham used a drench gun to force-feed Willy a toxic pesticide inside the Vista Ridge High School’s barn facility on October 23rd. This act led to the tragic death of the 6-month-old goat, as security footage captured Willy trying to escape the encounter. Shockingly, Vanlandingham was seen leaving Willy and returning to check on him multiple times before notifying the rival competitor’s mother that the goat was not doing well.

The young goat tragically passed away within 24 hours, experiencing convulsions and respiratory distress. The cause of death was determined to be organophosphate intoxication from phosmet, a pesticide used for external parasite control in livestock. Vanlandingham allegedly confessed to the crime, claiming that she believed the 15-year-old competitor was cheating. She had previously attempted to harm Willy without success.

The mother of the 15-year-old victim expressed her disbelief at Vanlandingham’s lack of remorse. She emphasized the need for justice to be served and for the accused to face the consequences of her actions. The investigation revealed disturbing details from Vanlandingham’s phone, including searches for lethal doses of bleach for animals and poisoning methods, indicating premeditation.

Despite Vanlandingham’s alleged motive of jealousy, the victim’s mother stressed that there is no room for cheating in goat shows, making the senseless act even more incomprehensible. The accused has been charged with cruelty to livestock animals, a felony in Texas that carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. She was arrested on November 22nd and released on a $5,000 bond the same day, with a court date set for January 15th.

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and fair competition in all aspects of life, including livestock shows. It is crucial for individuals to take responsibility for their actions and to seek help when experiencing negative emotions such as jealousy. Let us hope that justice is served in this case, and that measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.