SALEM, Ohio – A Portage County family hopes offering a reward of more than $6,000 will help uncover information regarding the death of their miniature horse in early November.
The 2-year-old black stallion, owned by Tim and Joyce Adams of Deerfield, was last seen in a pasture on their property Oct. 28, according to police reports.
Joyce Adams reported the horse missing Oct. 29 and a sheriff’s deputy searched the area of Bonner Road near the Adams’ home but did not locate the horse.
Because the farm is close to Berlin Lake, the deputy alerted representatives of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which manages the lake for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The horse was found dead by a dock owner Nov. 3 on the shores of the lake. The horse’s body was partially submerged in water.
According to Sheriff Duane Kaley, there were no signs of trauma, lacerations or cuts.
“Nothing leads us to believe it’s an act of violence. There were no signs of malicious intent,” Kaley said.
The body was sent to the Ohio State University veterinary hospital to determine the cause of death. The investigation is ongoing.
Part of the family. “Eddy was a family pet. They [the Adamses] have 12 grandchildren, and at least two of them were very close to the horse,” said Robin Adams, the owners’ daughter-in-law. “It’s heartbreaking.”
The horse had also taken first place ribbons at shows at the Canfield Fair. The horse was valued at $500.
Any person who has information regarding the case should contact Robin Adams at 330-547-8816 or the sheriff’s office at 330-297-3890.
(You can contact Andrea Myers at 1-800-837-3419, ext. 22, or by e-mail at amyers@farmanddairy.com.)
