Pennsylvania teens torture deer, tear off its antlers and skin it in disturbing video, police investigate after outrage
Two teenagers from Pennsylvania are being investigated after they allegedly filmed a video showing themselves torturing a deer to death and then skinning one of its antlers.
The footage was originally uploaded on Snapchat and then screen-shot by concerned users and circulated on Facebook. The incident took place in an unidentified wooded area of Pennsylvania. The two teenagers have been identified as Cody Hetrick and Alex Smith, although they are yet to be charged with a crime.
The video, which is currently being investigated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission shows the pair kicking a wounded deer repeatedly and laughing. After it appeared to take its last breath, the duo tore off one of its antlers and skinned it on camera.
Their conduct, as demonstrated in the footage, was branded "reprehensible" by the commission. "The conduct portrayed in the video is reprehensible and potentially a violation of the law. Pennsylvania State Game Wardens are currently investigating the matter. If you have any information related to the video, we ask that you report it to the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888–PGC-8001 or the Game Commission’s Northwest Region Dispatch Office at 814-432-3187," it said.
The sickening act also drew outrage from social media users, who have started a petition against the boys to ensure that they get the maximum penalty for the cruel crime.
"These two give hunters a bad name. They tortured an injured buck, kicking it repeatedly in the head and breaking its antlers off. Alex Smith and Cody Hetrick should not just be prosecuted but banned from hunting for life. As a hunter I find this deeply disturbing and a disgrace," Christopher Hall, who launched the petition, said.
The petition started on Change.org, has already collected over 366,500 signatures at the time of writing this article out of their set goal of 500,000.
"Charges need (to be) filed with maximum sentencing especially with the new bills put into effect from the president making these acts federal offenses," the petition said.