Two charged with stealing pig from Ozark Empire Fair

When Robert Todd learned that one of his show pigs had gone missing from the Ozark Empire Fair this summer, he figured it probably didn't fly away.

Todd reported his 7-week-old pig stolen, and police recovered the animal about a month later.

Last week, formal charges were filed against the man and woman accused of taking the 50-pound pig with them when they left the fair.

"It was a shock," Todd said. "It was a total shock to know that someone was able to actually do that."

Todd said the malnourished pig died the day after police found it, and he is hoping those responsible will face some justice.

Catherine J. Walters, 35, of Nixa, and Brock Hilton, 29, of Republic, were charged last week with stealing a livestock animal, a Class C felony.

Walters has also been charged with misdemeanor animal abuse.

According to a probable cause statement, Todd reported on Aug. 7 that one of his pigs — valued at $500 — had been stolen from the Ozark Empire Fair sometime between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Three weeks later, a staff member at the fairgrounds told police she had seen photos of the pig on Facebook in possession of Walters and Hilton, the statement says.

Springfield police contacted Walters at her home in Nixa, where they found a pig that looked identical to the one that had been stolen, the statement says.

Police say the pig appeared to be sick.

Walters told police she and Hilton had attended the rodeo at the Ozark Empire Fair, but she denied stealing a pig, according to the statement.

Walters told police she had received a pig for free earlier that month when she was traveling back from Iowa, the statement says.

Walters eventually agreed to let police take the pig, saying "If it is in fact their pig, tell them he is not well and to take good care of it," the statement says.

Walters told police she had the pig castrated by a veterinarian, the statement says.

Police returned the pig to Todd, and the next day it died, according to the statement.

Todd told the News-Leader his sons, niece and nephew show pigs throughout the state during the summers. Todd said the children get very attached to the pigs, and the whole experience was tough for them.

"You can imagine a 5-year-old boy that loves his farm animals," Todd said. "Imagine what a 5-year-old kid would be like if you told him one of the pigs was gone. That’s what we dealt with."

Hilton and Walters have been released with some special conditions, including that they cannot be on the premises of the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. Their first court appearances in this case have been scheduled for Jan. 14.

The suspects do not have attorneys listed for this case.