Idaho Rancher Accused of Letting His Cows Starve to Death

1,800 cows supposedly died in a blizzard in Washington state, but now this Idaho rancher stands accused of letting his cows starve to death. 

It makes me sick to think of these poor animals slowly starving to death. Abandoned with nothing to eat.

42-year-old James Peter Marek of Slate Creek, Idaho is under investigation for animal cruelty.

He says they died along with 1,800 dairy cows during the blizzard of February 9th and 10th.

Officers say that when Marek's cows were discovered there was no evidence that they had been provided with any food and there were no tire tracks in the snow to show they had been attended to. Marek's attorney contends that there is no evidence as to what his 29 cows died from.

According to the idahopress.com and Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant,

the investigation is ongoing and as information is obtained, the prosecutors office will evaluate what charges if any are appropriate.

Marek doesn't have a great history though. Back in 2016, he was accused of stealing cattle in Idaho from a South Dakota rancher and on February 26th of this year, he was found in a warehouse parking lot with a stolen trailer.

He is currently facing charges for the stolen property, obstructing law enforcement, and resisting arrest.

I just hope they can determine how these cows died and if he did indeed starve them I hope he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law. No one and no animal should ever die that way.