Christopher Wallace, an 18-year-old, has been arrested in association with multiple counts of alleged animal cruelty and livestock theft in connection with the deaths of over a dozen cattle at Saint Gregory’s Abbey in Shawnee, Oklahoma. According to authorities, Wallace, along with a juvenile accomplice, allegedly used a crossbow to kill the cattle, causing significant financial loss to the abbey.
The incident first came to light on June 22, when the Shawnee Police Department received a report about the killed cattle. Further developments occurred on July 22, when a monastery worker spotted flashlights in a field and discovered a crossbow near a tree. Police detained and interviewed Wallace and the juvenile at that time.
According to The Oklahoman, the motive behind these killings appears to be thrill-seeking rather than for meat or monetary gain. The cattle, which included female calves intended for breeding and bull calves for sale or beef production, represented a loss of approximately $35,000 for the abbey. The abbey had plans to utilize these animals as part of their Mission Monks label at their Monk’s Marketplace.
Reverend Simeon Spitz, a Catholic priest and monk at St. Gregory’s Abbey, expressed the community’s distress over the incident. He highlighted the financial impact on the monastery, which relied on these cattle for its breeding program and sales.
Shawnee, located in Pottawatomie County, is about 45 minutes east of downtown Oklahoma City. The local community and authorities were shocked by the nature of the crime, given its apparent lack of conventional motive. The Shawnee Police Department emphasized the severity of the charges against Wallace, noting that the juvenile’s case has been referred to a government agency that handles juvenile offenders.
In response to the financial strain caused by the loss of their cattle, Saint Gregory’s Abbey is accepting donations to help recover some of the monetary damages. Those interested in supporting the abbey can make contributions to assist in their recovery efforts.