Reward planned for information on who shot and killed Charlotte horses

CHARLOTTE - Just over a week after two horses were shot and killed and a third was wounded in their pastures on North Ainger Road a local business owner has offered up to $500 to anyone with information leading to the arrest of whoever pulled the trigger.

And about a dozen people have verbally committed to contribute money to his effort.

Micheal Dyer, who owns Dyer Well Drilling & Services, offered the money Monday after reading about the death of Kelsie Newman's horses, Solo and Price, who died Nov. 21 after sustaining gun shot wounds on her family's property.

Dyer said the shooting, which officials at the Eaton County Sheriff's Office say they are investigating as an intentional act, bothered his 12-member staff at the Delta Township business.

"I just think it's wrong," he said Wednesday. "People knew these horses from all these social events. They're gentle, docile animals. It's a senseless killing."

Sgt. Todd Thorn of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Monday the shooting did not appear to be hunting-related.

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Prince, 12-year-old Belgian draft horse, gave countless sleigh and carriage rides during local festivals and events throughout Eaton County over the last decade.

Newman said she returned home after a class at Olivet College at around 4 p.m. on Nov. 21 to find him lying on the ground in one of the property's pastures, dead from an apparent gun shot to his heart and lung area.

Duke, another of the family's draft horses, was found standing next to his body. He had sustained one gun shot wound to the shoulder, Newman said. He is recovering.

Newman's 17-year-old quarter horse, Solo, was located in a separate pasture. He sustained a gunshot wound to his stomach, and died the next day of his injuries in the family barn.

Thursday morning Newman said Duke is recovering from his injury. Her family supports Dyer's reward efforts, she said.

"We think it's awesome that somebody would step up and do that," Newman said. "We're doing okay, still really sad about it, but it's time to move forward and try and find out who did this."

Dyer, who lives in Ada, read about their deaths Monday and said he was moved to act. He stated his intention to start a reward fund, and contribute $500 to it, in a post on social media. He said 10 people have since announced their intention to contribute to the effort. State Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, who sponsored wagon rides offered by Prince and Duke annually at the Grand Ledge Color Cruise, said Thursday morning he's offering $500 of his own money to the effort.

"We just want to facilitate somebody being prosecuted, and I think we speak for the community," Dyer said.

Dyer said his company plans to work with Flagstar Bank in Grand Ledge to establish an account for the funds. He said he's also reached out to Eaton County Undersheriff Jeff Cook to discuss the fund's creation.

Wednesday Cook said he hadn't spoken with Dyer yet. Police are still investigating the incident, and have no new information, Cook said.

"We're looking at several avenues," he said. "There's no question that rewards can lead to information in cases like this."

Anyone wishing to contribute to the reward fund can make checks payable to “Prince/Solo Reward Fund”, C/O Dyer Well Drilling & Service, 7300 Millett Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917. Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to contact Detective Sgt. Josh Ivey at 543-5447, the county's crime tips hotline at 543-5433, or Crime Stoppers at 483-STOP (7867).

"Someone knows something," he said.

Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at (517) 528-2075 or rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ.