By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Someone killed, gutted and stole a cow from a Gold Hill residence before the New Year.
Rickey Swaringen told Rowan County Sheriff’s deputies a neighbor alerted them of a shots fired and they heard a cow bellowing in the fields of his father’s property at 625 Wyatt Grove Church Road. The property belongs to Marshall Lewis Swaringen, who is also a longtime bail bondsman.
The incident was discovered around 8:30 p.m. Thursday night.
The person who killed the cow, which was valued at $800, took most of the carcass.
There was no sign of forced entry to the farm, said Sheriff’s Capt. John Sifford.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.