An act of rivalry at a Texas high school has sparked outrage and legal consequences, as a 17-year-old girl faces charges of animal cruelty.
Authorities allege that Aubrey Vanlandingham deliberately poisoned a competitor’s show goat, Willie, in a shocking case that has drawn comparisons to notorious acts of sabotage in competitive settings.
What Happened to Willie
The incident unfolded in October at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park.
According to an arrest affidavit, Vanlandingham used a drench gun — a device typically used to administer medicine — to force-feed Willie a toxic pesticide.
CCTV footage reportedly captured the act, which led to the goat’s painful demise.
Documents detail that Willie exhibited severe symptoms, including convulsions and respiratory distress, before succumbing roughly 21 hours after the poisoning.
A necropsy confirmed the cause of death as organophosphate intoxication from phosmet, a pesticide commonly used for parasite control in livestock.
A Confession and Disturbing Search History
Vanlandingham allegedly confessed to police, stating that she targeted Willie because she believed the goat’s owner was “a cheater.”
According to the affidavit, this was not her first attempt — she admitted to trying to poison the animal previously.
Investigators uncovered disturbing internet searches on Vanlandingham’s phone, including queries like “how much bleach can kill an animal” and “poisoning pets, what you should know.”
She also searched for ways to erase her search history.
Charges and Community Reaction
Vanlandingham now faces up to two years in prison if convicted of cruelty to livestock animals.
The mother of the goat’s 15-year-old owner, devastated by the loss, called for justice.
“We were there when he passed away. My daughter was actually holding him. So that was very traumatic,” the mother shared with The Daily Mail.
Expressing frustration with what she perceives as a lack of remorse, she added, “We want justice served, we don’t want a slap on the wrist. We want to make sure that she is punished.”
When Rivalries Turned Ugly
This case isn’t the first time competitive tensions have escalated into unethical or illegal behavior.
In 2019, a Michigan teenager was accused of injecting a competitor’s steer with an illegal substance before a county fair.
Similarly, the 1994 attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, orchestrated by associates of rival Tonya Harding, remains one of the most infamous examples of competitive sabotage in sports history.
