Six mutilated cattle carcasses, untouched by predators, and no tracks in sight. This is the case that authorities in Madison County, Texas, are currently investigating along the State Highway Old San Antonio Road.
Last week, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office shared that a rancher had called in about a six-year-old longhorn-cross cow that had been found lying dead on her right side at his ranch. The cow bore a straight, clean cut “with apparent precision” to remove the hide around the cow’s mouth — the tongue was also missing.
The strangest part? There was no blood, no sign of struggle, and no footprints or tire tracks. Intriguingly, predators and birds also refuse to scavenge on the decaying carcass.
Law enforcement who looked into the original cow’s death also discovered that there had been five other similar happenings along the same area of the highway into Brazos and Robertson County — all in different locations, pastures, and herds.
Out of the five other cattle found, four mature cows and one yearling were reported dead. Each animal was found in the same manner — lying on their side with the exposed side of the face, “cut along the jaw line and the gone, once again, completely removed,” authorities said. Again, there was no sign of struggle, no blood spill, and no noticeable tracks. Predatory animals continue to avoid each of these carcasses as well.
The only distinguishing difference among the mutilations was that only two of the cattle had a precise, circular cut removing the anus and external genitalia.
According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement is coordinating with other agencies in impacted areas. They have requested that anyone who knows someone or observes anything similar contact Investigator Foster at 936-348-2755.
The case recalls mutilations across the heartland in the 1970s, and several strange cases in recent years around the country. According to the History Channel, nearly 200 cases of mutilation were reported in Colorado between April and October of 1975. In 1979, thousands of reported mutilations invoked investigation by the FBI involving cases in New Mexico.
»Related: A seedy history is only one part of the Ghost Ranch in New Mexico
