JUNE. YEAH, AND THIS LAND HERE IN SHAWNEE BACKS UP TO SAINT GREGORY’S ABBEY. NOW, THE FARMER WHO RAISES CATTLE HERE SAYS THAT HIS GOAL WAS TO HELP GIVE THE MONKS ANOTHER SOURCE OF REVENUE. BUT NOW, WITH CATTLE BEING KILLED AND BUTCHERED HERE ON HIS LAND, HE SAID THAT HE’S LOST MORE THAN HE EVER HAS. I’VE LOST MORE CATTLE IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAN I HAVE ALL TOGETHER. JERRY SPITZ SAYS HE MOVED CATTLE TO SHAWNEE IN JUNE FOR A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MONASTERY, BUT STARTED LOSING THEM RAPIDLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THEN THE AG DEPARTMENT COME OUT AND RIGHT OFF THE BAT HE SHOWED ME THE CUTS, SPITZ SAYS. THEY FOUND ARROWS FROM A CROSSBOW AND CUTS WHERE SOMEONE’S BUTCHERING CATTLE, COSTING HIM THOUSANDS. I’M GUESSING. 23, 24, 25,000 SO FAR, HE SAYS. IT’S MONEY THAT DOESN’T COME EASILY. I CAN’T HANDLE THE I, YOU KNOW, I CAN’T HANDLE 20 AND $30,000. I MEAN, IT’S BAD ENOUGH FARMING AND IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE TO MAKE BACK. THEY CAN SURE RECOGNIZE LIVELIHOOD. I’M SORRY FOR CRYING. PLUS, AS A FARMER, YOU KNOW I’M TAKING CARE OF THE CATTLE AND I’VE GOT GUYS HELPING ME. BUT I’M THE ONE THAT GOT TO EXPLAIN TO THE MONKS. HEY, WE’RE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY. HE CARRIES THE WEIGHT OF LOSING HIS HERD. NOW HE HOPES OTHERS WILL MAKE A REPORT IF THEY SEE SOMETHING OR HAVE A SIMILAR SITUATION. IF NOBODY SAYS SOMETHING GOING TO WIND UP LIKE ME. NOW, SHAWNEE POLICE SAY THAT THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE OF INTEREST IN THIS CASE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO ARRESTS MADE. THEY SAY ONE OF THE PEOPLE OF INTEREST IS A JUVENILE REPORTING LI
'Wreck a guy's livelihood': Shawnee rancher has been losing cattle rapidly and unexpectedly
The rancher, who works to feed others in the community, described the emotional situation
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Updated: 6:05 PM CDT Jul 23, 2024
A Shawnee rancher has been finding his cattle dead since June, leaving him unsure of what the future holds. >> Download the KOCO 5 AppHis land backs up to St. Gregory's Abbey, where he was raising cattle with the goal of helping feed the monks and give them a source of revenue. But with multiple cows being killed and butchered, he said he is losing more than he ever has. "I’ve lost more cattle in the last few months than I have altogether," rancher Jerry Spitz said. Spitz moved the cattle to Shawnee in June for the partnership with the monastery. But he soon began losing them rapidly and unexpectedly. "The ag department came out, and right off the bat, he showed me the cuts," Spitz said. The farmer said they found arrows from a crossbow and cuts where someone was butchering cattle, costing him thousands. "I’m guessing $23,000, $24,000, $25,000 so far," Spitz said about how much money he has lost. He said it's money that doesn't come easy. "I can’t handle $20,000 to $30,000. It’s bad enough farming," Spitz said. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The loss is going to be a challenge to make back, something that made Spitz emotional to think about. "They can sure wreck a guy's livelihood. I’m sorry for crying," Spitz said. As a rancher, he carries the weight of losing his herd. "I’m taking care of the cattle, and I’ve got guys helping me. But I’m the one who’s got to explain to the monks, 'Hey, we’re not making any money,'" Spitz said. Now, he hopes others will make a report if they see something or have a similar situation. "If nobody says something, you’re going to wind up like me," Spitz said. The Shawnee Police Department said they have two persons of interest in the case, but no arrests have been made. One of those individuals is a juvenile. Top Headlines Body camera video shows Watonga man slammed to the ground by police during morning walk with son OHP identifies 25-year-old woman killed in multi-vehicle weekend crash near Guthrie Woman dead, another critically injured after head-on crash in Creek County, OHP says Who's No. 2? The leading Democrats who could be a running mate for Kamala Harris Bodycam video reveals chaotic scene of deputy fatally shooting Illinois woman who called 911 for help
SHAWNEE, Okla. — A Shawnee rancher has been finding his cattle dead since June, leaving him unsure of what the future holds.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
His land backs up to St. Gregory's Abbey, where he was raising cattle with the goal of helping feed the monks and give them a source of revenue. But with multiple cows being killed and butchered, he said he is losing more than he ever has.
"I’ve lost more cattle in the last few months than I have altogether," rancher Jerry Spitz said.
Spitz moved the cattle to Shawnee in June for the partnership with the monastery. But he soon began losing them rapidly and unexpectedly.
"The ag department came out, and right off the bat, he showed me the cuts," Spitz said.
The farmer said they found arrows from a crossbow and cuts where someone was butchering cattle, costing him thousands.
"I’m guessing $23,000, $24,000, $25,000 so far," Spitz said about how much money he has lost.
He said it's money that doesn't come easy.
"I can’t handle $20,000 to $30,000. It’s bad enough farming," Spitz said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
The loss is going to be a challenge to make back, something that made Spitz emotional to think about.
"They can sure wreck a guy's livelihood. I’m sorry for crying," Spitz said.
As a rancher, he carries the weight of losing his herd.
"I’m taking care of the cattle, and I’ve got guys helping me. But I’m the one who’s got to explain to the monks, 'Hey, we’re not making any money,'" Spitz said.
Now, he hopes others will make a report if they see something or have a similar situation.
"If nobody says something, you’re going to wind up like me," Spitz said.
The Shawnee Police Department said they have two persons of interest in the case, but no arrests have been made. One of those individuals is a juvenile.
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