State police say a Lancaster County man is accused of killing 11 turkeys

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – On Monday, a Lancaster County man allegedly killed 11 turkeys that were in a pasture fenced in by an electric fence.

State police in Lancaster said in a criminal complaint that Jesse Bills, 28, of Gap, was denied employment and allegedly killed the turkeys and took two of them with him.

According to the complaint, officers were dispatched in reference to a theft just before 7:30 p.m. at a residence located in the 5000 block of Friendship Lane in Salisbury Township.

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After learning about the dead turkeys, troopers say they found Bills walking in a nearby field. He was then detained and interrogated.

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Bills said he was looking for a job to pay off debts and dropped by, but was told to come back in the morning. According to the complaint, Bills claims a family member told him to go back and catch as many turkeys as he could.

State police say two other dead turkeys were found in a field after searching the area. The turkey owner was able to identify Bill as the person he had made contact with earlier in the day.

The complaint says a neighbor reported the incident to state police after she confronted Bills about dead turkeys in the field.

Bills faces eleven counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, as well as misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals, theft, criminal trespass and trespassing.

Bills is being held in the Lancaster County Jail and his bond is set at $1,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 30.

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