The remains of the most recent horse found killed in Miami is enough to make the alleged cat killer squeamish.
Charred bones are all that remain of what used to be an adult brown horse, which was likely butchered for its meat like all of the other victims, investigators think. But this horse's death appears to be even more brutal than the others.
The horse was stabbed in the neck at least twice, which likely led to it bleeding to death. But what's worse is the animal was probably still alive when chunks of its chest and legs were sliced off by the illegal butchers. Then the horse was lit on fire near its stable. Police believe the heinous crime occurred on Sunday night or early Monday morning.
There have been at least 18 horses in and around Miami that have been killed and believed to have been targeted for their meat. Six have occurred in the past month. Officials believe the meat is then sold on the black market, where it can go for as much as $20 per pound. The sale of horse meat is illegal in the U.S.
Despite their best efforts, police have not been able to track down the band of horse killers and many local farm and horse owners fear they may have to experience the horror of finding their dead animal -- or at least what's left of it.
