Woman Arrested for Aggravated Animal Cruelty After Emaciated Horse Discovered
A Marion County woman has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty after authorities discovered a severely emaciated horse on their property. The arrest followed an anonymous tip received by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, leading to an investigation into the condition of the animals owned by Bronc Platt and Cheyenne Costello.
Incident Details:
On April 15, 2024, Detective Struble and Officer J. Burgess responded to a complaint regarding an emaciated horse at 16280 Northeast Jacksonville Road. Upon arrival, they spoke with Bronc Platt, who admitted ownership of two horses: a bay gelding named George and a palomino pony named Pop. The officers observed George to be in a severely deteriorated state, with visible ribs, spine, and other bone structures. The pasture was overgrazed, and the fence posts bore bite marks consistent with a horse trying to eat the wood.
Owner’s Statements:
Mr. Platt revealed that George had been losing weight over the past four months, and despite feeding the horses three scoops of all-stock feed and one scoop of weight builder daily, George’s condition continued to decline. He admitted they had not sought veterinary care for George during the two years of ownership. Cheyenne Costello, who holds an associate degree in a veterinarian-related discipline, confirmed the lack of professional veterinary care and cited financial struggles as a reason for their inability to provide proper nutrition and care.
Seizure and Examination:
A search warrant was issued on April 16, 2024, allowing authorities to seize both horses. George and Pop were transported to Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital for evaluation. Veterinarian Dr. Natalie Khouzam assessed George with a body condition score of 2 out of 9, indicating severe emaciation, and expressed concerns about re-feeding syndrome. George weighed 963 pounds, significantly underweight for his size.
Dr. Eric Evans, who conducted a follow-up examination on May 1, 2024, found George had shown improvement after receiving basic care from the Sheriff’s Office, which included adequate feed and hay. Dr. Evans confirmed that George’s poor condition was due to a lack of nutrition and proper care over an extended period.
Legal Proceedings:
Based on the investigation, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office charged Cheyenne Costello with aggravated animal cruelty. The evidence indicated that George suffered malnutrition to the point of severe emaciation, causing unnecessary pain and suffering. The case follows the precedent set in State v. Morival, where felony cruelty was upheld in instances of severe neglect leading to significant weight loss in animals.
Costello now faces legal repercussions as authorities continue to monitor the recovery of George and Pop. Marion County Animal Services emphasizes the importance of proper veterinary care and nutrition for all animals and urges residents to report any suspected cases of neglect or abuse.
