Weld Co. man arrested after threatening to 'execute' horses

Trenton Parker's zoning dispute with Weld County had nothing to do with the 24 horses he cared for. That is, until the disgruntled resident suggested killing the animals in protest.

He posted fliers asking for "executioners" to help kill the horses because, he believed, the zoning laws were forcing him to abandon the ranch.


"The fliers specifically stated he was going to be doing these executions to protest Weld County zoning codes," Sheriff's Department spokesman Shane Scofield told us.

Weld County Sheriff's investigators might have written the fliers off as a prank. Except that Parker called the county zoning office in July threatening to do the same thing.

"We're going to shoot the mares in the belly four or five times with a bow and arrow," the recorded phone call said. "Then we're going to take a sledge hammer because the mare will probably be on the ground and we're going to bash her brains out."

Parker was also due for a 90 day jail sentence September 8th because he refused to clean up the property. But he was arrested Wednesday on a prior assault charge

His fliers caught the attention of Katie Weatherbee from the National Horse Rescue Association. She's volunteering to take care of the horses but says she needs help.

"What I'm trying to do, is stop the horses from being shot," she says. "I need hay, I need more grain. I've done as much as I can do, I need more people."

People wishing to donate hay, alfalfa or grain for the horses can take the feed to the ranch at the southeast corner of Weld County Road 8 and WCR 35 or contact National Horse Rescue at nationalhorserescue@gmail.com.