On January 21, Kim Fullerton’s champion Morgan, Sacred Paths Ice-T (aka Bender), was shot in the leg by a high-powered rifle at her family farm in Charlotte Hall. The horse was euthanized by a veterinarian that day. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release on February 4 stating that this is the third horse shot in that area over the past four years.
A horse in 2008 was shot by a paintball gun and then another was shot by an arrow. At the time, a suspect was investigated but the according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, “the State’s Attorney’s Office revealed there was not enough evidence to pursue criminal charges.” The Sheriff’s Office went on to state that at this time, “there is no evidence linking these incidents but investigators will look into the possibility of any connections.”
Kim spoke to The Equiery fondly of her eight-year-old gelding, who she bought at an auction as a two-year-old. “I didn’t have a lot of money and wanted to get something young that I could develop on my own,” she said. Bender far exceeded her expectations and over the years earned one Reserve National Championship, three National Championships and one World Championship through the American Morgan Horse Association.
Diane Richardson in the Charles County Sheriff’s Media Relations Office told The Equiery that there is a reward being offered for any information leading to an arrest in this case. Anyone with information can call 301-932-2222 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, 1-866-411-TIPS. “We have gotten a lot of phone calls from people just expressing their compassion” and wanting to help in any way, she said.
