RICHLAND COUNTY, SC (WIS) -
A series of supposed animal mutilations that had some residents of a northeast Columbia neighborhood on edge was fabricated by a security guard, according to Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
Lott on Wednesday said Wayne Alexander Crosby, 43, is charged with obstruction of justice. He was arrested at his home Tuesday morning.
Crosby is accused of filing a false police report that a number of animals had been mutilated in the Spring Valley Subdivision.
"Crosby has given us a statement that he made this up, that he was trying to draw attention to him, that he wanted to make himself out to be more of an expert than he is," Lott said.
At the time of the incidents, Crosby was employed as a security guard for Spring Valley Security.
After the initial reports of the deaths, Lott put criminal animal investigator Holley Wagner on the case.
Wagner's investigation, according to the sheriff, showed that all four of the animals were killed by other animals or died of natural causes.
There was also a report of a dog being skinned and killed, but Lott said Crosby made that story up.
The sheriff said Crosby fabricated the whole story to try to be the "hero who was working to solve the cases."
"He took it and he blew it up," said Lott. "We caught him in numerous lies that he couldn't wiggle his way out of."
"Look at the fear that he put into the community," said Lott. "What he was saying just didn't fit the evidence."
Two of Donna Draughon's pet cats were killed, and she was led to believe that they were among those animals that were a part of the case.
Draughon says she'll still keep a close eye on her cats she saw coyotes in her back yard recently.
"That's still cruel to tell somebody that, to have the whole neighborhood upset," Draughon said.
Crosby faces up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted.
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Wayne Alexander (Source: Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center)
