The investigation into what killed nine horses on two central Pennsylvania farms owned by horse breeder Joseph Meyer has taken a bizarre turn.
Both Lower Windsor Township’s police chief in York County and York County’s SPCA director say Meyer hasn’t come in to speak to investigators in person about the case.
But he is talking, on YouTube.
In a video posted Friday under username “AllimaxRS,” a man who identifies himself as Joseph Meyer says nine of his horses died from poisoning, four mares, three miniature horses and a foal at his farm on Snyder Corner Road in Lower Windsor Township, and a pony at Allimax Farms in West Hempfield Township, Lancaster County.
Another video posted Friday under the same username, shows a horse in distress, showing troubling symptoms. The poster describes the horse, named Black Velvet, as having been poisoned.
Meyer makes a bold claim about who he thinks is responsible.
“For the last four years, animal rights activists have been ganging up against my business because they don’t believe that horses should be used commercially,” he said. “And last week, someone poisoned my horses and killed nine of them.”
Lower Windsor Township Police Chief Tim Caldwell said his department, along with the York County SPCA, is looking into the horses’ deaths.
“A number of animals dying, especially large animals dying at the same farm could be evidence that there is some sort of malicious intent going on,” Caldwell said.
Though Meyer had a lot to say in the 6:18 clip, even vowing to cooperate with police, Chief Caldwell said Meyer hasn’t been seen or heard from since he made the initial 911 call to report the dead horses on March 22nd.
“The individual in the video appears to be Joe Meyer obviously the individual articulates a lot of information about this particular case but until we see this individual face to face and get a chance to sit down and talk with him, it’s just a video on the internet,” Caldwell said.
In the video, Meyer said he had to close his business and is in hiding with his family because they fear for their safety.
“The poisoner knew me. This was not an accident,” Meyer said. “Pray for us to have strength and pray that the criminals who did this get caught.”
Meyer ends the video by asking for donations to help with the upkeep of the remaining horses.
Tissue and samples from one of the dead horses have been sent to a lab for testing, but Chief Caldwell said he hasn’t gotten the results just yet.