A Carroll County farmer testified under oath in federal court Wednesday that one of his estranged siblings stole the 100 pigs from his quarantined farm.
Marston farm owner Carroll Schisler Sr., 60, said that after the funeral of his mother in August, his brothers, Ralph Schisler who lives next to the farm, and Fred Schisler, of Littlestown, Pa., said the farm shouldn?t have been left to Carroll Schisler Sr., and the animals belonged to them.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariana Arnold said federal and state agriculture investigators interviewed witnesses who say Carroll Schisler Jr., 34, who operates and lives on the farm, removed the pigs Sept. 18, some of which had tested positive for a deadly parasitic disease.
Daniel Green, the younger Schisler?s lawyer, refuted the prosecutor?s evidence, saying he saw pigs on the property Sept. 21 or 22.
“It?s problematic” that the elder Schisler or his attorney, Roland Walker, failed to file a report of theft with the police, U.S. District Judge Andre Davis said.
Davis then called for 45 to 60 days of “discovery,” or a period of time for prosecutors and defendants to continue their investigations into the pigs? whereabouts and call witnesses.
“Ultimately, what we want to know is where the pigs are. We want the pigs back. Are these pigs still pigs, or are they bacon? I have no idea,” Davis said.
The pigs tested positive in April for trichinosis, a parasitic disease that can cause nausea, diarrhea and, in severe cases, death. The pigs were then reported missing last week.
Schisler Sr. was charged three weeks ago with polluting state waterways.
Davis ruled in July that the Schislers? slaughterhouse be closed. The Schislers also face charges of animal cruelty and selling contaminated meat.
