Posted on 11/26/2025 8:10:19 AM PST by Red Badger
Two Charlotte County men face felony charges after allegedly trespassing onto a DeSoto County farm and shooting a cow in the head while they were on their way to school.
The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office arrested Matthew Robert Wright and Gavin Hunter McMillan on charges of armed trespass and aggravated animal cruelty, the press release stated.
Thomas Butler discovered the men on his family’s cattle farm northwest of Arcadia on Friday. One man stood in the pasture holding the dead heifer’s head, telling Butler “someone shot this cow,” according to Fox 4, which cited an arrest report.
When Butler asked where they were going, the men said they were headed to school and needed to leave. “Butler advised they were going nowhere and contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report the incident,” the report stated.
DeSoto County Sheriff's Office 5d · Yesterday, Deputy Beasley and Corporal Santana responded to a property located in the area of NW County Road 661 in reference to a trespass. The complainant reported two unknown males trespassed on their property and killed one of their Heifer cows. The unknown males were identified as Charlotte County residents, Matthew Robert Wright and Gavin Hunter McMillan, and were located next to the deceased cow. The cow had an obvious gunshot wound to its head. Wright admitted to shooting the cow, which suffered briefly before he had to shoot it again to kill it. Wright said he did not plan to do anything with the cow. Both Wright and McMillan were arrested and charged with: • Armed Trespass F.S.S. 810.08(2)(c) - FELONY • Aggravated Animal Cruelty F.S.S. 828.12(2) - FELONY • Knowingly propelling a potentially lethal projectile over or across private land without authorization F.S.S. 810.09(g) – FELONY • Possession of Marijuana less than 20gms F.S.S. 893.13(6)(b) • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia pursuant to F.S.S. 893.147(1) Cattle operations are an important livelihood for many families here in DeSoto County and across our state. Sheriff Potter is thankful for the concerned citizens and the Deputies who investigated this senseless crime. Remember to report suspicious activity, if you see something say something. Report Animal Cruelty to us at (863) 993-4700.
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Carl Pickle, who owns the land where Butler raises cattle, told deputies the men jumped a barbed wire fence to access the property.
Wright initially changed his story multiple times before admitting he shot the cow with his rifle, deputies said. When asked what he planned to do with the animal, Wright said he intended to do nothing with it.
Deputies removed a concealed 9mm Glock handgun from Wright’s pants during questioning. A search of McMillan’s vehicle turned up several grams of marijuana and a grinder.
“It was cruel, what they did,” said Rylee Butler, Thomas’s daughter. “And I don’t think it’s whatsoever right.”
The family estimates the heifer was worth around $45,000.
“You weren’t going to take it for the meat, you know? What was the purpose of it?” Rylee said. “It was just like a vindictive kind of act.”
Sheriff James Potter thanked concerned citizens and deputies for investigating what his office called “this senseless crime.”
Next step. Captured in Johnny Cash song:
Early one morning with time to kill
I borrowed Jeb’s rifle and sat on the hill
I saw a lone rider crossing the plain
I drew a bead on him, to practice my aim
My brother’s rifle went off in my hand
A shot rang out across the land
The horse, he kept running, the rider was dead
I hung my head, I hung my head
I set off running to wake from the dream
My brother’s rifle went into the sheen
I kept on running into the south lands
That’s where they found me, my head in my hands
The sheriff he asked me why had I run
And then it came to me, just what I had done
And all for no reason, just one piece of lead
I hung my head, I hung my head
Here in the courthouse, the whole town was there
I see the judge high up in his chair
Explain to the courtroom what went through your mind
And we’ll ask the jury what verdict they find
I felt the power of death over life
I orphaned his children, I widowed his wife
I begged their forgiveness, I wish I was dead
I hung my head, I hung my head
I hung my head, I hung my head
Early one morning with time to kill
I see the gallows up on the hill
And out in the distance, a trick of the brain
I see a lone rider crossing the plain
And he’d come to fetch me, to see what they’d done
And we’ll ride together to kingdom come
I pray for God’s mercy, for soon I’ll be dead
I hung my head, I hung my head
I hung my head, I hung my head
Reform...............
Dad had a couple of cows shot back in the 1970s. One healed, the other died.
I would imagine the value of the ones shot posted here is more like $450 depending on size. $45000 sounds like a good fine for these teens.
A man i knew worked cows, he got a good kick from one. He waited for the right time, then brained the cow with iron bar. The cow walked unsteadily for while.
“Those two budding serial killers need to be monitored for the rest of their lives.”
Dollars to donuts those “men” will be talking to their mamas from behind Plexiglass five years from now. They’re serial killers in the making. (If they’re not already.)
I despise these people!
An uncle of mine was kicked in the belly by a cow in the 60’s and it damned near killed him. Took him months to recover............
Your log on is close to being correct, jmo. But we all
make mistakes as we progress thru life. Take care.
While Old Testament civil law is not applicable in the church age, the principles should serve as a guideline. These two men should be compelled to repay the rancher at least the cost of the cow they killed. That would be far better than a stint in the county jail.
I remember back in the ‘60s my cousin went to an auction in Canada. 1 bull sold for $40,000 but in its prime, a breeding bull and many bidders.
Awhile back, a buddy of mine and me went to ask a farmer if we could deer hunt on his property.
the farmer said sure, but can you do me a favor, my mule is old and suffering, but i don’t have the heart to put him out of his misery, could you do that for me, and you can hunt all year long.
so as i went back to the truck, my buddy said, what did he say, so i jokingly said he refused, see that mule... and blam i shot him square away...
my buddy yelled aw right, see that cow... blam!
-Some dumb A$$ shot a friends horse the first week of deer season here in NH.-
A friend of mine had his horse shot dead below him while on a deer hunt by Cloudcroft NM.
The shooter was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail and paid my friend the price he put on his horse, $15000.
“I would imagine the value of the ones shot posted here is more like $450 depending on size.”
Don’t imagine. Google ...
Might have been a special breed. People are trying to bring back some breeds that are now rare.
Or they may be calculating the way they do in any wrongful death suit. If this heifer had been allowed to live her life she would have produced so many calves or so much milk and so that is her worth. Not what she would have been worth at the knackers.
A dairy cow produces a couple of gallons of milk per day for several years. She’s worth a LOT more than a simple meat animal, especially since she still hasn’t been bred yet, so she hadn’t even started repaying her raising costs.
Whites are always men, never youths or boys or teenagers..
45K for a heifer?
I know cattle are high but that must be one special heifer.
>> The family estimates the heifer was worth around $45,000.
Holy smokes! Must’ve weighed five tons and been hand massaged beer-fed Kobe!
>> But how is a heifer worth $45,000?
That’s an insurance (or lawsuit!) number, not a livestock sale barn number.
Maybe a Spotless Red Heifer?................
My buddy who’s a dairy farmer said that could be the low end for all kinds of certain specialty cows or bulls.
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