SALEM TOWNSHIP — A supplemental report released by the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office has revealed additional information in the ongoing investigation into the death of four horses whose remains were discovered at Pure Gold Horse Stables & Equestrian Center Sunday. 

A Columbiana County Sherriff’s Deputy responded to Pure Gold at 3325 state Route 45 at 5:27 p.m. Sunday for a report of animal abuse. Upon their arrival the deputy was advised by the caller, who had been leasing the property, that she had opened a barn and discovered the skeletal remains of four horses that they believed “were locked in there and starved to death.” According to the report the woman was accompanied by two veterinarians and a third individual when the remains were located, and that one of the veterinarians was able to scan one of the horses and “pull up a code that was photographed.” 

The deputy was then shown the inside of the barns where they “observed that the wooden pens appeared to have been chewed on” and that “buckets in each pen” contained “only remnants of straw.” The report states that upon examining the horses the deputy observed that “they appeared to be mostly decomposed with only patches of skin left,” and that “all four skeletons appeared to have winter coats on,” which was “the reason to believe that the horses have been dead since last winter.” 

The deputy was then advised by the caller that there were seven additional horses on the property which were in “poor condition” when she leased the property and that she has been taking care of them, but would be leaving on Monday and was “concerned that they will not be taken care of appropriately.” The report also stated that the property owner has previously had complaints for not feeding and taking care of horses filed against them by employees. 

On Monday, a deputy responded to Pure Gold at 1 p.m. to assist a member of the Columbiana County Humane Society with a follow-up investigation into the deceased horses. They were met by the property owner at the front gate and after a brief interview were given permission to enter the property and see the scene and the horses, but the property owner stated that they needed to get keys from a property down the road in order to do so. The property owner also stated that they “were trying to get heavy equipment to bury the carcasses,” which were observed on the property by the deputy. 

The deputy and humane society agent remained on the property to wait while they went to get the keys. The property owner did not return initially, and after being called by the deputy, the property owner advised they could not find keys to the area where the dead horses were but would show them the property and the horses that were alive so their health and living conditions could be evaluated. While walking the property the owner advised that their horses were regularly treated by Lisbon area veterinarians and that the horses had “died sometime earlier in the year.” She also advised that the woman leasing the property “had been taking care of things for about two months but that she came regularly to take care of two young stallions,” and that she had not given them access to the building where the dead horses were located. 

The property owner also reiterated that the gate was locked, and she could not find the keys; however, the deputy inspected the gate “and saw that there was a chain and a pad lock but that it was just clipped onto a bolt to hold the gate shut.” The deputy requested permission to “unclip the chain and enter the building,” which was granted by the property owner. The report states that upon entering the building “there [were] horse feces everywhere” as well as miscellaneous tools and trash and multiple dead horse carcasses. The property owner stated that they believed the horses had “all died around the same time” and had been poisoned by a former employee who “may had had an issue with [the property owner] over someone buying the property but did not articulate any specific instance, threat or direct reason” why the employee would want to get back at her. 

The report states that the humane society representative questioned the property owner “intently on veterinary and medical records, maintenance, time of death and other topics,” which was recorded by the deputy. The report also states that the property owner advised that a veterinarian would be coming to the property on Wednesday and granted permission for the Humane Society representative to join the veterinarian during their visit. 

The humane society posted a statement to its Facebook page Wednesday stating that it was aware of the public’s concern surrounding the investigation, and that it shared the community’s “outrage and concern” in the face of the “horrific and heartbreaking situation.” The statement reiterated that the Humane Society was unable to release any specific information about the ongoing investigation because doing so prematurely “could compromise the integrity of the investigation and the efforts of all agencies involved.” 

The statement also requested the public’s “patience and cooperation as the investigation continues” and urged them to refer to official updates from the Humane Society, Sheriff’s Office, or the Columbiana County Prosecutor’s Office for further information about the case to be provided “when it is legally and ethically appropriate to do so.”