An Anson County man accused of killing an alpaca and a horse has now been charged with additional counts of animal abuse and accused of killing a llama.
Gerald Rhynes was charged on April 12 with 14 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and one felony of killing an animal by starvation.
He was released that same day after posting a $10,000 bond. His conditions of release included providing his fingerprints and a sample of his DNA.
Detective Steve Erdmanczyk with the Anson County Sheriff’s Office said Rhynes allegedly starved a llama to death April 5 on his property on South Teal Hall Road near Wadesboro.
Rhynes allegedly starved several other animals, including 10 horses, a calf, two bulls and a goat, according to arrest warrants.
He was arrested on April 1 after he was charged with killing an alpaca by starving it, and was charged in January with starving a horse to death. He was released on bond the day of his arrest.
The starved alpaca was “laying on the ground unable to get up,” according to the investigation report. The report lists the Anson County Health Department as a victim, as the county had to call in Robbie Whaley from Piedmont Equine in Marshville to euthanize the alpaca.
Erdmanczyk said foster homes could not be lined up quickly enough to take on all of Rhyne’s 200 to 300 animals, but that he believes many of the animals have been sold as the herd has drastically lessened. The county animal shelter is only equipped to accommodate cats and dogs, Erdmanczyk said.
Rhynes is scheduled to appear in court April 19 for the earlier animal abuse charges, and has a court date of April 26 for the charges from April 12.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.
