WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Horses Allowed To Starve, Owner Faces Animal Cruelty Charges

Horses Allowed To Starve, Owner Faces Animal Cruelty Charges

By Jeff Tang

(LOUISVILLE, February 15th, 2005) -- It was a shocking discovery in Bullitt County when four horses were found starved to death on their owner's farm. Five others were near death and more dead horses are said to be buried on the property. Now the owners may face charges. WAVE 3's Jeff Tang investigates.

Delbert Martin has been busy these past few days caring for his five new horses. "I feed these every morning before I go to work," Martin says.

That's more than their previous owners can say. All of the horses on Daniel and Eugene Edgeson's farm have been neglected for months, and five horses were on the verge of dying from starvation after weeks without food.

"I haven't seen any hay given to no animals all winter," said next door neighbor Harold Ashby.

At least four horses didn't survive the neglect, and one of the dead horses lay just feet away from Ashby's home. "I was fertilizing my fields and I saw it was lying in the corner of the barn," Ashby said.

Police saw the rest when they showed up. Even seasoned veterans were shocked by what they found. "In my many years of law enforcement, this is the worst I've ever seen," said Chief Deputy Jim McAuliffe of the Bullitt County Sheriff's Department. "We have animals who literally died and fell in their stall. We have animals outside. We have animals in the fields that are perished."

Police say as many as seven other horses are buried on the property.

The Edgesons were arrested and charged with nine counts of cruelty to animals. McAuliffe has horses himself. "Animals have a heartbeat. Feelings and thoughts like anyone else," he said.

Martin volunteered to nurse the five living horses back to health. Not surprisingly, they've taken a liking to him. "They're eating good, they always holler when I come in the barn."

Martin hopes they'll also take a liking to some eager fans: his grandchildren. If all goes well, the horses will be ready to run in just a few months.

Second degree cruelty to animals is a Class A misdemeanor and carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.

Police say it is possible that further charges could be filed against the couple.

Online Reporter: Jeff Tang

Online Producer: Michael Dever