News 12 at 11; July 23, 2009

EVANS, Ga. --- Columbia County investigators are looking into a possible case of animal cruelty involving a cow.

According to an incident report, an anonymous caller told police two men hit a cow multiple times over the head while it was tied to a tree in Evans. The caller says the two men then skinned the cow while it appeared to still be alive.

The incident happened at a home on Aspen Laurel Drive. Deputies went to the home and spoke with 48-year-old Joel Franco who says he bought a cow in Edgefield for a cookout he was having for his brother who was visiting from out of town.

He says he tied the cow to a tree and hit the animal two to three times on the top of its head with a five pound hammer until he believed it was dead.

Then, he says he skinned and quartered the cow.