ATLANTA — The bodies and heads of decapitated animals keep turning up in the middle of an intersection in northwest Atlanta. There have been chickens – lots of chickens – and just a few days ago, there was a goat.
The incidents have been happening near Collier Park on Adkins Road.
Channel 2 Action News reporter Jeff Dore knocked on doors and talked with neighbors who said they've seen headless animals in the middle of the intersection many times. One neighbor said probably 20 of them have shown up over the last few years and it's giving people the creeps.
"Normal people would not be doing that," said neighbor Steve Durden.
Someone is leaving animals with their severed heads beside them in the intersection of Adkins Road and Fairburn Place.
"Maybe a hen sometimes. A rooster sometimes," said another neighbor, who did not want to be identified.
Dore asked her about the goat.
"Yeah, a goat. Yeah, they done had some of everything down there and they don't pick it up. They run over it," said the neighbor.
Neighbors said the animals and animal heads have been showing up for two or three years.
Durden said he suspects the dead animals have something to do with one gang trying to intimidate another gang.
"This is kind of what the word on the street is. This might have been them trying to send a signal or sign that 'I'm going to take over this turf right here' so to speak," said Durden.
All the neighbors Dore spoke with up and down both streets know about the animals and said they were upset about it.
"It makes me mad when I see it down there," said one neighbor.
"I don't know what that's all about with the dead animals. Soon it's probably going to be dead people," said Durden.
Dore contacted the Atlanta Police Department about the goat incident and they released a statement:
"The Atlanta Police Department has been made aware of discarded animal remains left at an intersection in northwest Atlanta. On investigation by our Homeland Security Unit, it appears the animals are possibly linked to religious and cultural customs and rituals practiced by some. The APD has seen similar incidents in the past. It is important to note that cruelty to animals is illegal, and those caught engaging in such activities are subject to arrest and prosecution under applicable laws."
WSBTV
