Aubrey Vanlandingham, a 17-year-old high school senior from Austin, Texas, is facing up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine for allegedly poisoning a fellow student’s goat to gain an advantage in an animal show. Vanlandingham, who was a cheerleader and the president of her school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA), showed no remorse when questioned by authorities, allegedly telling them “I don’t like cheaters.”
According to police, Vanlandingham injected pesticide into the six-month-old goat, Willy, on October 23, causing him to convulse and eventually die. A necropsy confirmed the cause of death as organophosphate intoxication from phosmet, a pesticide commonly used for external parasite control in livestock.
Vanlandingham’s social media accounts show her posing with her own goat, Lacey, and bragging about the FFA’s winning ways. She had also been an ambitious animal show competitor, parading Lacey in shows across the state for cash prizes and certificates.
The victim’s mother told DailyMail.com that her family wants “justice” for Willy and is calling for a judge to give Vanlandingham jail time. “We don’t believe there is any remorse there, we hope that she has to serve jail time and she gets some kind of mental help,” she said.
Vanlandingham has been charged with one felony of torturing an animal and is scheduled to appear in court on January 15. She has been banned from attending Vista Ridge High School while the case is ongoing.