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Clues Sought In Beating Death Of Llama

News Channel 8 photo by MAURICE CAPOBIANCO

Gaither High School student Christine Staat, seen here with Chase, found the llama Adonis dead at the school agriculture barn on Wednesday.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2008

Updated: 02/01/2008 12:23 am

An 8-month-old llama named Adonis suffered trauma to the head and died Wednesday in the Gaither High School agricultural barn, Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies say.

A lock on the animal's pen was "destroyed," said Christine Staat, a 10th-grade agriculture student who found the llama dead about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Deputies found a hammer found nearby, along with the broken lock.

Assistant Principal Henry Strapp said the animal's head was swollen and a nostril was bleeding.

A veterinarian performed a necropsy and determined the cause of death to be a fractured skull caused by trauma, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said Thursday.

Sgt. Wayne New said there were no suspects or witnesses, and it was not clear whether the person who broke the lock was a student at the north Hillsborough County school.

Whoever broke the lock had to jump fences to get to the llama, Strapp said.

It was possible, however, to get into the pen without breaking the lock.

Strapp thought a juvenile was responsible for the attack. "If it was an adult that did this, it was a very sad person."

He had no idea why someone would want to kill a llama.

Gaither students were told Thursday about Adonis' death.

"You could feel the sense of sorrow and remorse throughout the building," Strapp said.

Adonis' owner, a Gaither 10th-grader, was in class Thursday morning. Strapp said the student declined to comment.

Adonis was one of about 25 animals, including four llamas, living in the southwest corner of Gaither's campus and was part of the 200-student agricultural department. The school, which has about 2,400 students, is at 16200 N. Dale Mabry Highway.

Strapp said the school hoped people will come forward with information that leads to an arrest. A reward of $500 is being offered through the school's crime watch.

Staat, 16, stood beside Chase, her 1-year-old llama, outside the barn Wednesday afternoon. She petted Chase and tried to keep the animal in place while speaking with the media about Adonis' death.

She said Adonis likely was killed by a heartless person who doesn't care about others' feelings.

"I would like to punch them in their face," she said.

Adonis was a dark chocolate color with a silver coating, Staat said. He was probably worth about $1,000.

"Adonis was very sweet, loved to come up to you, loved attention," Staat said. "He was very lovable."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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