State police are investigating the killing of several alpacas on a farm in Essex.
Troopers were called to Alpacas at Applesauce Acres at 99 Bushy Hill Road in the Ivoryton section of Essex around 8 a.m. Friday after four alpacas were found dead.
State police originally said just one alpaca had been killed, but later said the number of dead animals was four. There was blood covering the ground inside the pen where the animals were held.
Investigators said the animals were "violently killed", each suffering multiple stab wounds. Police said the alpacas were definitely killed by a human, and that they were not victims of an animal attack. Several other alpacas were in the pen, but unharmed, police said.
Police have launched a criminal investigation.
This is not the first time alpacas have been killed at the farm. State police had two previous investigations in the past four months in which alpacas were killed. At least one of the animals in the prior attacks had been shot.
Investigators have asked anyone who may have seen cars or people in the area of Bushy Hill Road Thursday night or Friday morning to call them.
