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September 24th, 2009, 11:24 AM
#1
Veteran
Horse, anyone? No b-ball needed!
2nd teen held in North Miami-Dade horse killings
A second teenager was arrested and charged with killing horses at two ranches in Miami-Dade County.
BY JOSE PAGLIERY
jpagliery@MiamiHerald.com
Police have arrested a second teen in connection with the recent North Miami-Dade horse killings that are believed to be fueled by a market for equine meat.
Santiago Cabrera, a 19-year-old from Hialeah, was arrested Monday night and charged with armed burglary, animal cruelty, killing a registered breed horse and breaking or injuring a fence. Last week, police arrested Luis Miguel Cordero, 18, on similar charges.
Cabrera was being held without bond Tuesday at the county's pretrial detention center.
Cabrera and Cordero are believed to be among four people who took part in killing a horse at two different ranches. Miami-Dade police are still searching for two other suspects whose names have not been released.
It is unclear if the two teens are linked to other horse killings in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. At least 17 horses have been slaughtered this year in South Florida.
``I'm very relieved that we have another arrest,'' said Jeanette Jordan, president of the South Florida SPCA, the horse-rescue organization that has been working with police to help solve the crimes. ``But I'm stunned that these guys are so young and I'm heartsick about it.''
She cautioned that even these arrests don't ``mean it's over. Horse owners must remain very vigilant.''
Horse owners have discovered their pets' butchered remains in pastures and along rural roads -- one even in its own stall -- after they became apparent victims of a black-market demand for horse meat.
Cordero was arrested last week after investigators received a tip that he was planning to kill another horse. Detectives said they placed a wire on a man who was approached by Cordero and offered $2,000 to take part in the slaughter. Police said Cordero -- who was found with a duffle bag filled with garbage bags, rope and a butcher knife -- confessed to breaking into a Miami Gardens ranch on Sept. 9.
According to police, Cordero and others secretly entered the Lazy L Ranch in the 5400 block of Northwest 159th Street and pulled the horse, King Quizi, out of its stall.
The police report states Cordero ``used a rope to tie the horse's legs and push it to the ground.'' Another man nicknamed Flaco then ``cut the horse's throat and immediately began to cut the horse's front quarters as the horse was suffering an agonizing death.''
They stuffed the meat into bags and drove off in a red pickup truck, according to the report.
Cordero was arrested days later and was being held without bond Tuesday at the Metro West Detention Center.
On Monday night, police arrested Cabrera, who allegedly confessed to taking part in the Lazy L Ranch killing -- and another in North Miami-Dade.
Police said Cabrera got $500 for cutting through the Lazy L Ranch's fence, tying a strap around King Quizi's neck and muffling the horse's cries as the others cut it limb from limb.
Investigators said he was paid $800 for a previous job July 9 at the Stone City ranch in the 12100 block of Northwest 57th Street.
A metal pipe was used ``to break the horse's front legs,'' according to the police report.
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September 24th, 2009, 11:45 AM
#2
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