Virginia Woman Arrested in Pig Decapitation Case

Police in Virginia have charged a woman with felony counts of maiming livestock for allegedly decapitating one pig and stabbing another.

Ashley Marie Fowler, 21, of Portsmouth, has been charged with two felony counts of killing/maiming livestock, one count of misdemeanor vandalism and one count of possession of prescription pills, police said.

The investigation began Tuesday morning, when police were called to 23-year-old Zack Sawyer's Chesapeake home. Sawyer told police that his mother was leaving for work that morning when she found the decapitated head of one of his pigs on their front porch.

The headless pig's torso, which had sustained multiple stab wounds, was found inside a nearby pig pen. A second pig housed in the same pen had been stabbed multiple times and had to be euthanized, police said.

Sawyer also reported to police that someone had slashed the tires on his vehicle. Authorities believe the incident was connected to the animal mutilations.

Fowler, an acquaintance of Sawyer's ex-girlfriend, was arrested Wednesday morning at her workplace. Police said she was in possession of prescription pills.

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"I'm shocked," Sawyer's mother, Janie Sawyer, told The Virginian-Pilot. Sawyer told the newspaper she had never heard of Fowler but that she was "glad, if it's the right person."

Fowler has reportedly not commented on the case. Sawyer told police he suspects the crimes were committed out of revenge. Authorities have not elaborated on a possible motive.

"I always thought she was a good kid," Fowler's neighbor, Valerie Kelly, told WAVY-TV. "I've never had a problem with her or anything, and her mom and dad are great. But she's hung around some boys that are questionable. Other than that, I've never known her to be in trouble for anything."

Fowler is free on bond. If convicted, she faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on each felony charge.