TBO.com > News > Latest News Reports
- Send Your Wishes To The New Administration
- Moffitt Among Quarterfinalists For Lott Award
- Two Women Thrown From Boat When It Hits I-75 Bridge
- Judge Imposes Stay On Lethal Injections
- Poll: More Coastal Residents Would Not Evacuate For Hurricane
- Robbers In Ninja Garb Strike Hampton Inn
- Deputy Is Accused Of Domestic Battery
- 2 Men Burst Into Home, Steal More Than $7,000
- Temple Terrace Man Wounded In Shooting
- Polk Deputies Charge 17 Men After Weekend Cockfight
- Baby Dropped Off At Fire Station
- Jury Awards $21.1 Million In Wrongful Birth Case
- Deputies Investigate Bank Robbery
- Grandpa Robbed; Grandson Charged
- Composite Sketch Of Armed Carjacker Released
By MIKE WELLS
The Tampa Tribune
BRANDON - Who would kill 14 ducklings in a pen by someone’s house by stomping on them, and why?
That’s what Hillsborough County investigators are trying to determine after finding the dead birds early Tuesday morning in the Providence Lakes subdivision, Hillsborough County sheriff’s officials said.
Someone stomped most of Tom Breitsprecher’s ducklings to death between late Monday night and early Tuesday morning sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.
Three ducklings survived with broken legs and wings, but they had to be euthanized by a veterinarian. Breitsprecher said they were still peeping when he found them.
A month ago, Breitsprecher paid $80 to have four varieties of ducklings shipped from an Iowa hatchery. He planned to release them on the lake next to the couple’s home after Thanksgiving and enjoy watching them grow to adulthood, he said.
Brietsprecher said he built a small pen, and each morning he fed the birds and watched as they paddled around in a little pool.
The pen sits outside a living room window. At 11 p.m. Monday, Breitsprecher’s wife, Susie, checked the ducklings before the couple went to bed.
After waking Tuesday, the husband found the dead birds. Four were outside the pen, probably because they tried to escape, he said.
Whoever killed the ducklings faces charges of animal cruelty and trespassing, sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.
Breitsprecher is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprit, he said.
Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 657-4534 or mwells@tampatrib.com.
I lived in the Brandon/Riverview area for 9 years (until 2004) and still keep an eye on local news through tbo.com. At 6:30 this morning I was sitting at my computer (in California) with tears streaming down my face because I could not fathom the brutal destruction of these innocent creatures. I grew up on a farm and have seen the good, bad, and ugly of animal life. But to intentionally maim and kill these baby animals is unacceptable and disgusting. I can’t even think of words strong enough to express my feelings. I hope the sick bastards are caught and prosecuted to the maximum. And while we’re at it, how about voting for stiffer penalties for this type of crime. The current punishments are absurd. If there is any justice they will answer to a higher authority some day and burn in hell.
Let’s just say this…most serial killers started out by abusing and/or killing animals. So, all of you who think it’s atrocious that this type of crime gets attention, stop and think. If you think it’s no big deal, could you stand by and watch someone do it? I am sure you couldn’t. Please educate yourself before you make snap decisions. Based on some of the responses I see to stories here, I am surprised no one said “i’m sure it’s in a bad neighborhood - it must be drug related-” or, some type of racial slur. This is a disgusting crime and I would not want someone who could do this living in my neighborhood.
Eye for an eye, all the way. I don’t know how these ingrates can live with themselves now, but I hope nightmares plague their sleep and they get what they deserve. Animals, whether they are babies or not, can’t defent themselves from human cruelty. They are at our mercy. The few who can defent themselves get killed by people anyways, it’s ridiculous. Regardless of whether baby ducks should be in a subdivision, I wish I knew who did this. Paybacks are a ...well, you know. I love all animals and hate who did this.
Mr Ritter, abortion is legal in this state, animal cruelty is not. If it upsets you enough to make a political / religious statement, I would hope you are involved in politics and you make your voting oppurtunities count.
If were talking about apples, leave out the oranges.
Such a horrible attack on innocent little ducklings is a vicious act. If this was the work of a minor, the book should be thrown at him! If not, jail time is only fair plus pschyo-therapy. If the owner is still considering raising ducks, I would like to offer to help pay for another batch.
To Jerry Ritter: this is an article about ducks being killed not a lecture on abortion!!!!! It’s two completely different things - very different and you never know who you may be affecting with the situation at hand with your stupidity.
How truly sad that someone is heartless enough to do such a thing!
Whether or not he should have been raising ducks for the pond is not the issue. If someone has a problem with that, take it up with homeowner’s association or whatever is in subdivisions.
Someone this heartless is very frightning…makes me wish we had eye for an eye punishment!
We need tougher laws for animal cruelty here and in other states…in Utah a man caused a dog to lose an eye and then put him in the oven causing his front toenails to fuse together and burns on his body….all to “##### his wife off” since it was her dog (she has since filed for divorce) He got 6 months in jail, counseling, and some restitution. he should have gotten more time!
let’s hope we catch this scum
Another example of the scum that live in that town.Just a breeding ground for scum.Alot of drug activity and bible thumpers in that town.
Anna Mortellaro - putting people down doesn’t get anyone anywhere. While I don’t care for those type of comments (the agreement to kill ducks cause she hates birds) either, everyone is encouraged to speak up.
It bothers me greatly to see this (ANY) type of animal cruelty. I can’t tell you what I would do with individuals like that (putting it on the monitor might burn up the tube on all ends).
However, realistically? Chances are the perp(s) will not ever be found (unfortunately).
And for those folks who wondered what kind of person would do something like that? This type of behavior falls between the two categories of “criminal psychology” and “abnormal psychology”.
it is unknow why someone would put so much curity in a poor little duckling
“MJ”- from the MJ Morning Show on 93.3 FLZ radio has offered a $1000.00 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the criminal that has done this. GO to www.mjmorningshow.com and send MJ an email with your information.
I hope we catch the criminals that have done this to these innocent ducklings.
What a sad story.
I guess they did it because they wanted the attention. You know karma, it’s just a matter of time before they get what’s coming to them.
We get upset by killing ducks but we will kill unborn babys all day long and know one seems to care. I don’t understand.
Doesn’t serial killers start off this way?!
What did these innocent babies do to deserve this?!?!? Someone out there is extremely “warped” and in need of mental help. If they’re not caught, then what’s their next target… I was sick to my stomach when I heard this on the news this morning. Let’s break their (his/her) arms and legs and let them lay there for a while gasping for help…they’ll see how “funny” it is. Please let this idiot be caught…and SOON! Yes, charges MUST be pressed against this sick individual. Thanks for letting me “vent”.
I value the life of an animal more than the life of the scumbags that live in Brandon.Brandonites make me sick.Truly the scum of the earth live in Brandon.
Randomly killing ducklings or any animal is just WRONG. Regardless of cross-breeding (where do you come from?)Every person born has naturally instilled right and wrong values, I believe this. And whoever did this must have deep emotional scars more than likley from their parents inability to raise them properly. This was just a adolesent rage issue..
Watch your back yard Brandon.
This kid or kids are probably the product or mistakes of inbeciles in denial. “NO NOT MY CHILD” Whats next for them larger animals, children people that cannot defend themselves. I cannot say I condoned the teenage prison camps, but one would be in line for these punks!
Ok, by no means an I an animal lover. People who act like their pets are people, dressing them up, spend thousands of dollars for surgery? For the live of me, it makes no sense. But even to me, this is sad…I can only imagine that teenagers did something like this (or an really immature person). The 12-19y.o and immatures (they have their own classification) would even find this remotely amusing. The sad part of this, besides the obvious, is that this will generate more anger and outrage than an abused child (a real person) ever would.
I hope the person who wrote that is “put under the jail” as well.Theres no room for more stupid Americans in Brandon.Learn to read for your kids sake.
It’s people like that, that are ruining our wildlife. Bringing in non native ducks to cross breed with native birds is irreponsible. Just b/c they look cute doesn’t mean they should be let loose. It’s a good thing they were taken care of before they caused too much damage.
One of these days, I pray that I witness or catch one of these losers hurting an animal, any kind of animal. They better hope the police get to them before I do, so help me God. To those that did this crime, do us all a favor and MOVE, we don’t want you in this community. Go join the taliban so we can legally kill you as you are in the same mode as those losers.
Its sad people are in our world that are so cruel. Those baby birds were not hurting anyone, the kids that did this need to be shot and stomped, they have no feelings for Gods creations!! I wonder how there raising was must of not been to good they have no respect for life, or other peoples property.
Advertisement
Posted by DeeDee Tabner, Plant City on 11/08 at 10:31 PM
This is, indeed, a sad case. But folks, truly, not much will be done. The sheriff’s office can’t/won’t bring out a CSI-like team to investigate this crime. Unless the criminals turn themselves in (not likely) or a kind soul gives good information leading to an arrest, there is no proof. I had pet dogs, not strays, kill several of my exotic chickens, and since I couldn’t prove with video or photos those dogs killed, the owner was found not guilty. Best of luck to the duckling owners.