Family's baby goat stolen from pen, killed in "horrific' crime

ASHBURNHAM, Mass. - An Ashburnham family's baby goat was stolen from its pen and killed sometime between Thursday night and Friday morning.

The four-month-old Nigerian Dwarf goat, named "Marshmallow", the beloved pet of a six-year-old girl, was found with her throat slit and an empty bottle with blood on it beside her body, the family told Boston 25 News.

The family, who did not want to be identified, said they noticed the goat was missing around 7 a.m., on Friday, and found the body about 100 yards up the Midstate Trail behind their Ashby Street home. A hole had been cut in the wire pen, and their two other goats were still inside unhurt.

The owners called police who began investigating and sent evidence to the State Police Crime Lab.

"It appears that the goat had its throat slit by what appears to be a sharp object," Ashburnham Police Sgt. Wade Wright said. "It’s a pretty clean cut, and it has two puncture wounds on its side."

The family bought the goat along with the two others just weeks ago from Pat Stewart, who owns nearby Hames and Axle Farm with her husband.

"They just took her blood and left," Stewart said. "And they left her there where the children could have found it. And that to me is just horrific."

Stewart and her husband raise goats and currently have 60 on their farm. The couple treated Marshmallow like a child.

"We bottle-fed her. Her mother didn’t take care of her, so she lived in the house with us for a month, and we got very attached," Stewart said. "Makes me really sad. I lost a little goat friend. A new friend lost a family member."

Stewart said Marshmallow was so comfortable with humans that she likely voluntarily went to the fence when her killer approached.

"She never met an angry, nasty person," Stewart said. "She only thought that people brought her food and love."

Stewart can't imagine who would want to hurt Marshmallow.

"I hope they find help," Stewart said, "because they need help."

Stewart and her husband are now taking extra precautions to safeguard their animals, keeping their guard dog nearby and considering installing surveillance cameras.

Meanwhile, Ashburnham police ask anyone with information, particularly those who might have seen something out of the norm in the area overnight, to call them.

Cox Media Group