Golfer who bludgeoned turtle evades justice

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir August 6, 2013 09:47

The search for the golfer or golfers who savagely beat to death a turtle in a bunker on an American golf course has come to an end with no arrests made.

On June 10, a greenkeeper at Delbrook Golf Club in Wisconsin saw a female snapping turtle looking for a safe place to lay eggs – which she appeared to find in the sand at the 4th hole.

However, at least one golfer also saw the turtle – and responded by repeatedly beating her with a golf club.

The turtle was next spotted in the bunker – still alive – about two hours after the attack, with holes in her shell and blood on her face. Vets were due to operate on her, but she died shortly afterwards due to liver failure caused by the beating.

The story became big news in the USA – the New York Daily News described the killers as ‘psycho golfers’ and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources even released a statement asking followers on Facebook who were expressing their disgust at the attack to tone down their language.

Various environmental and animals groups offered rewards totaling about £7,000 for the capture of the culprit, with about half coming from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

However, Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has now said it has ”exhausted all resources” in the case.

DNR made house visits to, and phone calls with, a number of golfers who played on the course on the day in question, but nobody gave any useful evidence regarding what happened to the turtle.

“Our Cruelty Investigation Department looked into the case to determine its difficulty and they concluded that this case will be difficult to solve because the members on the golf course could, and did, bring anybody they wanted to golf with them – and those non-members were not recorded in any records,” said Patrick Shultz, a cruelty investigator with DNR.

“The only hope now is that someone with a guilty conscience will come forward.”

“Animal abusers are cowards,” said PETA director Martin Mersereau. “They take their issues out on the most defenseless beings available to them. Area residents have good reason to be concerned. According to law-enforcement agencies and leading mental health professionals, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat to all animals — including humans.”

 

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir August 6, 2013 09:47
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8 Comments

  1. Gene Sengstake August 8, 14:40

    This case was probably not “important enough” for authorities to actually do what had to be done to track down the perpetrator. The SOB responsible and all that witnessed this barbaric incident ought to be brought up on charges and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law – but then of course we all know that wouldn’t happen even if he was caught. So another piece of human garbage is allowed to go free – – –

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  2. Alan August 8, 12:26

    Absolute rubbish. Each member who played would know who they played with and they should all be questioned. The green keeper must know when approximately he saw the turtle. Are the club not keeping accurate records of visitors and guests?

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  3. Susan Savage August 7, 15:29

    I’m not sure which is worse: the fact that someone would be sick enough to commit such an obscenely cruel attack on this defenseless creature or that they can get away with it. This person is beyond hateful. May he rot in hell!

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  4. @LilRedfeather August 7, 15:15

    Golfer who bludgeoned turtle evades justice » Golf Club Management http://t.co/EcRpWPms9m

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  5. tom August 7, 01:59

    Maximum of 18 4somes on the course… = 72 to one hundred depending on time up to the tee….the moron who did this probably still has turtle blood on his golf clubs…. then prosecute the hell out of him….

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  6. @sweekeong81 August 6, 23:47

    No reason to beat the turtle to death! “Golfer who bludgeoned turtle evades justice” http://t.co/ODzaGHWLd9 #cruelty #anger #animals

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  7. Shannon August 6, 15:39

    To correct the article it should say WISCONSIN Department of Natural Resources has exhausted their resources… Not Minnesota.

    Please at least proofread your articles before they are posted. This abuse can only be further investigated if people have correct and accurate information. Unfortunately, these culprits may get away with this heinous crime against the creature that was doing nothing but trying to find a nesting ground for her eggs. They are sick.

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  8. 19th Hole Social (@19th_holesocial) August 6, 10:37

    #Golf #Panthersocial Golfer who bludgeoned turtle evades justice http://t.co/fu7SAlwmKg

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