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2 Arrested In Pig Stabbing; 3rd Man Sought

John Winterrowd/WFLA

Big Pig, above, was stabbed at least 10 times.

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TBO.com Staff Report

Published: September 18, 2007

Updated: 09/18/2007 04:49 pm

Previous Coverage: Deputies Investigate Stabbings, Thefts Of Pigs

SUN CITY - It's understandable why Big Pig is avoiding onlookers. The last time the 400-pound swine met a group of strangers, they stabbed him and tied him to a pickup, sheriff's officials say.

And so, Big Pig hid today in the shadows under the trees at Sun City Stables, recovering from the stab wounds to his throat, shoulder and hind quarters.

Authorities say three drinking buddies decided to go "hunting" early Sunday and ended up stabbing Big Pig and a pregnant pig and killing a third.

Deputies have charged William Andrew Lilley and Richard Charles Pinegar III and are looking for another man in connection with the death of one pig and injuries to two others at the Sun City Stables petting zoo.

Lilley, 20, of 10119 Gibsonton Drive, Riverview, apparently felt guilty enough about what he had done that he turned himself in Monday night to Hillsborough County deputies, sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said.

He was charged with animal cruelty, grand theft of a farm animal and trespassing. He remains in Orient Road Jail today with bail set at $6,500.

Pinegar, 20, of 12355 Foxmoor Peak Drive, Riverview, was charged with one count of trespassing and two counts each of cruelty to animals and grand theft. He remains in Orient Road Jail with bail set at $8,500.

An additional arrest is expected, according to the sheriff's department. Authorities are looking for a third man Lilley identified as "Luke."

Deputies said Lilley and the others arrived at the stables at 4430 U.S. 41 S. between 1 and 4 a.m. Sunday.

"Once there, the suspects climbed over the fence and repeatedly struck a 50-pound pig with a pole, killing it," Callaway said.

That pig's body was tied up and placed on a pickup. Pinegar and the unidentified man then attacked Big Pig with a pocket knife, causing severe injuries to the animal, and cut the pregnant pig, Callaway said.

They "attempted to remove Big Pig from its pen by tying a garden hose to the animal and to the pickup truck to drag it away," Callaway said. "When that failed, the suspects left the wounded pig and fled."

When they left, the men also left the stable gate open, allowing at least six other pigs to escape.

Those pigs returned, but they still won't go back into their pens at night, said Cornelia Winn, 18, daughter of one of the co-owners.

The pregnant porker is recovering just fine, Winn said.

"We were concerned that she might miscarry, but she seems OK and is due to deliver in about a month," she said.

Winn's parents and a family friend opened the business eight years ago and rent horses for riders to take to the trails on the property. The pigs are part of the petting zoo for children.

Winn raised Big Pig, who was born there about 7 years ago, she said.

"He's doing better," she said. "He's still doing the same kinds of things. He's lying out there, but he's not really eating much."

Winn thinks Big Pig survived the attack because he's, well, rather big.

"He's so fat," she said. "And so they didn't hit any major arteries or anything. We've just been letting Big Pig do whatever he wants to do, and we don't put him up at night anymore."

Reporter Josh Poltilove contributed to this report. Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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