ST. CROIX — A St. Croix horse owner is searching for answers after her 5-year-old horse, Outlaw, was fatally stabbed in what she described as a “horrible” and “cruel” act.
Natalia Barnes, who was raised around horses and owned Outlaw for about six or seven months, described him as an athlete in training and a companion who was part of her daily life.
“I love him, like the bond me and he had — yeah, I love that,” she said.
After receiving a call from a friend Tuesday morning explaining what happened to Outlaw, Barnes rushed to the spot in Grove Place where she kept him down a dirt road near Eulalie R. Rivera PreK-8 School.
“When I went there, he was just taking his last breath because I had get to touch him and rub on his head and so,” she said. “And then that’s when I heard him let out his last breath.”
Police were already on the scene, along with personnel who photographed the stab wounds and processed the area where the horse had been tied to a tree, Barnes said. She said Outlaw apparently tried to flee his attacker, pulling the tree out of the ground in the process. The senseless killing has left Barnes with more questions than answers.
“I don’t know who would do such a horrible act like that,” she said. “I don’t know. I still trying to figure out who and why.”
The incident is under investigation by the Virgin Islands Police Department, according to Glen Dratte, VIPD spokesperson. In addition to being stabbed, Dratte said it appears as though the horse might have also been shot. He said the suspicion would be confirmed following the release of necropsy results by the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture.
Barnes had been training Outlaw in the early mornings to prepare him to race.
“I used to just let him rest for two days and then start back again,” she said. “I would work him from Monday to Friday, and then he’d get Saturday and Sunday off because Sundays I used to go on little ride-outs with other people.”
In addition to Outlaw’s killing, Barnes had a second horse tied up at the same location that got let loose. She said she found her other horse, Blaze, after a two-hour search of the area.
After the VIPD responded to the call, Barnes provided officers with information and completed an official police report.
“I just hope, like, they really go through with the investigation and really find out who did this because that’s something cruel to do to a big, innocent animal,” she said.
In the wake of the tragedy, Barnes organized a community ride-out in Outlaw’s honor. Riders, walkers, friends, and everyone are welcome to participate. The group will meet at 1 p.m. Sunday, September 21 at “WD Downs” in Williams Delight.
