May 2, 2011
Man high on bath salts kills neighbor's goat, police say
Page 2 of 2
Mark Thompson, 19, of Alum Creek, is charged with animal cruelty
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"We know the animal had at least one stab wound," said Cpl. Sean Snuffer, a detective with the Sheriff's Department. "They are also searching for signs of sexual trauma."

Police took the dead animal to a veterinarian for a necropsy, he said.

Police are continuing their investigation. Thompson was arraigned Monday afternoon and taken into custody by Adult Protective Services.

Snuffer said the people in the community where Thompson lives told police they have been concerned about his mental health.

"I don't think they are very happy, the community over there," he said. "From what I understand they have been fearful of him before."

Powers said she and her family have lived next to Thompson for about three years. She said she took him to church with her family more than a year ago.

"Then he stole the communion wine and went out the downstairs door," she said. "I never took him back. ... We tried to be friends with him until we saw how he was."

Powers said she asked him not to come back to her house.

"He'd come anyway," she said. "He's just been a menace since I've been here. ...

"He runs through the woods, screaming and cursing and hitting things. What scared me was I didn't want him to hurt one of my grandchildren."

She said police have been diligent in their investigation.

"They tried to find fingerprints on the chain the goat was tied to," she said.

Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.

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