Andergrove mum Melissa Turners speaks out after horse killed

When a Queensland mum found her thoroughbred racehorse-turned family pet dead in a paddock she suspected a snake bite, but a sinister development has now sparked a major police probe.

Brooklyn Turner with her beloved horse Skye, who was deliberately killed overnight on Wednesday, October 4. Owners made the gruesome discovery on Thursday morning at the Andergrove paddock on Beaconsfield Rd where she was homed. Police have ruled it foul play and are investigating.

A Mackay region family is severely traumatised after learning someone deliberately killed their beloved thoroughbred horse Skye whose death is now the subject of a major police investigation.

Owner Melissa Turner made the chilling discovery at her Andergrove property just after 8am Thursday when she arrived at the paddock on Beaconsfield Rd, just two minutes from her home.

“She (the horse) was found deceased in the paddock,” Ms Turner said.

“It was very traumatic … when I found her.”

A horse named Skye was found dead on October 5 at the Andergrove paddock where she was home. Police have ruled the death as foul play and are investigating.

The distraught mum then had to break the news to her daughter Brooklyn Turner, 20, for whom they had purchased Skye six years ago.

Skye had been Brooklyn’s riding companion since she was 13.

“She’s not doing very well,” her mum said.

Stocksquad officers are investigating after a horse belonging to an Andergrove family was deliberately killed in a paddock on Beaconsfield Rd. Picture: Heidi Petith

Ms Turner, who kept four horses and three donkeys at the paddock, said when she’d arrived at the property for the evening feed on Wednesday, Skye was in “good health” so the death had occurred sometime between then and when she returned for the morning feed.

“When I found her I initially thought she’s had a snake bite,” Ms Turner said.

Brooklyn Turner with her beloved horse Skye, who was deliberately killed overnight on Wednesday, October 4. Owners made the gruesome discovery on Thursday morning at the Andergrove paddock on Beaconsfield Rd where she was homed. Police have ruled it foul play and are investigating.

Police have since ruled it was foul play and stock squad officers are investigating the cause of death, which cannot yet be revealed as it may impede the investigation.

Ms Turner said Skye was a 19-year-old, 15.3h tall thoroughbred and former racehorse, now retired.

Her daughter had ridden Skye in pony club and at different events.

Stocksquad officers are investigating after a horse belonging to an Andergrove family was deliberately killed in a paddock on Beaconsfield Rd. Picture: Heidi Petith

The family is heartbroken over the loss and has since moved all horses from the paddock, where they had kept animals for the past three years.

The property is next to a church and directly opposite the Andergrove Caravan Park.

“We have surveillance cameras in the paddock,” she said, adding they did not point to the area where Skye was found.

“We have images of (a) person walking across the paddock at 9.29pm.”

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mackay Crime Prevention Unit Sergeant Nigel Dalton said police were appealing to members of the public who may have been on Beaconsfield Rd between 6pm and midnight and seen something suspicious to come forward.

He said officers from Rockhampton’s Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural) had been called in to help.

Sergeant Nigel Dalton said Mackay police were investigating the suspicious death of a horse on Beaconsfield Road late on Wednesday, October 4. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“It’s a very tragic set of circumstances,” he said

“We’re obviously very keen on any video evidence to that could be dashcam or if there are any business or premises along here that have video evidence, if they could report that to us as well.”

Sgt Dalton said the horse was found “in a lying down position” but did not elaborate on the body’s condition saying injuries were subject to the investigation.

He said there was “no evidence available … at this stage to suggest” the culprit was known to the horse’s owners.

“I haven’t had any personal contact (with the owners), but any serious injury to an animal is extremely distressing,” he said.

Ms Turner also called on anyone with dashcam footage taken along Beaconsfield Rd from Wednesday night, October 4 or information to come forward.

Anyone who wanted to report anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.