In a haunting discovery out of Wisconsin, a couple stands accused of a horrifying case of animal neglect resulting in the demise of roughly 200 goats. Kyle Lincicum, aged 32, and his wife Stephanie, aged 33, now face many charges related to the disturbing find on their property.
Both Kyle and Stephanie Lincicum have been slapped with 20 counts of mistreatment of animals and failure to provide proper food and drink for confined animals, alongside five counts of timely disposition of carcasses. Each also faces a single count of transferring another’s personal property and theft.
The couple, who were taken into custody in May, made their initial court appearance this week. They defended the mass animal death, claiming it occurred over just a few days at the end of January or early February due to parasites or illness, as per their statements in court documents.
However, when asked about the exact cause of the animals’ deaths, Kyle Lincicum admitted his bewilderment, stating, “I have no idea what it was.”
A different story emerged when a veterinarian examined the distressing scene, citing that the likely cause of death for the goats was starvation and dehydration. The site seemed to have been devoid of flowing water for weeks, which paints a grim picture of the conditions these animals endured.
Sheriff Reg Gill of Lafayette County emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that feed purchase records indicate a prolonged period since the couple had bought any food for the animals.
The investigation was triggered in March when Stephanie Lincicum informed the landowner about the mass goat deaths. This led to a visit from the Farm Service Agency, which documented 177 dead goats at the site.
Police responding to the scene found only two surviving goats. However, these animals were in such poor condition that they had to be euthanized. The goats were shockingly thin, with “not a single ounce of fat on their bodies.”
Adding to the tragedy is the discovery that the couple allegedly made over $37,000 by selling approximately 265 goats during their stay on the property—an action they were not permitted to perform as they did not own the animals.
Sheriff Gill described the case as “extraordinary,” even in the context of animal neglect, due to the sheer number of animals involved. He conveyed his horror and disbelief, stating, “This was brought on just by lack of taking care of them… and obviously very devastating to see that many animals just left to die.”
Should they be found guilty, the Lincicums could be spending several years behind bars, a stark reminder of the heavy price to pay for neglecting our duties to care for and protect those animals under our stewardship.
