Man charged after killing neighbors’ pet chicken and hanging it in a tree as a ‘sacrifice’

David Roland Stecklein, of Theodosia, is scheduled to appear in court before Associate Judge Raymond Gross at 9 a.m. April 23, in a case in which he’s charged with harassment, stealing an animal, animal abuse and property damage. 

According to the probable cause statement, prepared by Ozark County Sheriff’s Sgt. Seth A. Miller, on March 31, the OCSD’s dispatch office was notified of a report of harassment.

When Miller arrived on scene, he met with the victims of the harassment, who told the officer that Stecklein was one of their neighbors and had killed one of their chickens, hung it from a tree in his front yard and when confronted about it, told the victims that it was his “sacrificing Passover.” The victims said the chicken was a pet of the family, and seeing it dead and displayed in that manner caused them serious emotional trauma and distress. 

Mr. Stecklein had previously harassed the victims by purchasing a loudspeaker and playing chicken noises from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. in the evening, the report says. The victims say they’ve also found chicken carcasses stuffed in their fence after Stecklein threatened to kill their animals. 

On April 4, Stecklein came into the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department to give Sheriff Cass Martin a statement. Miller spoke with Stecklein about the incident on March 31. 

“I asked Mr. Stecklein if he was the owner of the chicken. He stated he was. I then asked when he bought the chicken. Mr. Stecklein stated he did not buy the chicken; however, he found it dead. When asked why he stated he sacrificed the chicken, Mr. Stecklein replied, ‘The Lord gave it to me.’ I then informed him he was under arrest for harassment (1st), property damage and animal abuse,” Miller’s report says. 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423