Minnesota man charged in deaths of 4 horses

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota man has been charged with animal cruelty after police say they found four dead horses on his property.

The Mankato Free Press reports two Blue Earth County sheriff’s deputies responding to a complaint about a foul smell discovered the animals on property owned by Russell Dean Peters of Good Thunder.

The deputies found two 9-month-old foals and two older horses starved to death. Police say there was no food or water in the foals’ stall and it appeared they tried to chew a hole through the stall to reach some hay.

Peters told officials the foals stopped eating after they had been dewormed, but he could not name their veterinarian. He is expected in court on Aug. 7.