United States Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Albuquerque, New Mexico
January 15, 1980
By communication from FBIHQ dated Monday, March 5, 1979, the FBI Albuquerque Office, was instructed to conduct investigation into the mutilation of animals occuring on Indian Lands in New Mexico. This instruction was based on a memorandum dated 2 Friday, from the Department of Justice to FBIHQ, which authorized such investigation .
On Friday, April 20, 1979, a conference on livestock mutilations was convened in Albuquerque by Senator Harisson Schmitt of New Mexico, and the U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, R. E. Thompson. This conference was attended by law enforcement investigators from several states, FBI representatives, other interested parties, and the press. Approximately 180 persons were in attendance. Near the conclusion of the conference, it was reported by the District Attorney in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that a Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) grant had been applied for to provide funds for a special investigative unit to investigate cattle mutilations. Subsequently, it was announced that the LEAA grant had been made, and that a special investigative unit for this purpose had been set up under the auspices of the New Mexico State District Attorney in Santa Fe. Former FBI Agent Kenneth M. Rommel was appointed to head up the unit.
Investigation by the Albuquerque FBI Office determined that there had been reports of dead animals from both the Santa Clara Reservation and the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in New Mexico. Discussions with Gerald Hill, Bureau of Indian Affairs Criminal Investigator, Pojoaque, New Mexico, regarding the dead cattle which had been reported on the Santa Clara Reservation by members of the Santa Clara Tribe disclosed that these reports were in 1978. There was no evidence to cause it to be determined that the animals had been mutilated, and Investigator Hill did not make a complete investigation of the matter, nor collect any evidence for examination. Subsequent discussions with Raleigh Tafoya, Chief of Police, Jicarilla Apache Tribe, disclosed similar information, i.e. the reports of unexplained dead animals were in 1978, and although they were surrounded by suspicious circumstances, there was no evidence to positively determine that the animals had been mutilated. In neither case had evidence been preserved for examination, nor were there any complete reports of investigation done regarding the deaths.
The Albuquerque FBI Office discussed the possibility of animal mutilations with law enforcement officers in New Mexico, including Mel Sedillo, Jr., Investigator, New Mexico Livestock Board, Albuquerque, New Mexico, who has examined numerous animals said which had been reported as being mutilated. Investigator Sedillo said that in each instance his examination showed that the animals had been attacked by predators.
Since the conference of 20 Friday, the Albuquerque FBI Office has received a voluminous amount of correspondence from interested parties who have expounded their theories regarding this subject. Copies of this information have been furnished to Kenneth M. Rommel for his assistance.
On Tuesday, January 15, 1980, Kenneth M. Rommel advised his office has pursued numerous investigative leads regarding the possible mutilation of animals in New Mexico. He said that to date, his investigative unit has determined that none of the reported cases has involved what appear to be mutilations by other than common predators. Rommel said he has travelled to other states and conferred with investigators in those areas regarding mutilations, and to date has received no information which would justify the belief that any animals have been intentionally mutilated by human beings. Rommel added that regarding all the dead animals he has examined, the damage to the carcasses has always been consistent with predator action.
The Albuquerque FBI Office has alerted law enforcement officials who have juridiction over Indian lands in New Mexico concerning the March 6, 1979 authorization for the Albuquerque FBI Office to investigate the mutilation of animals on Indian lands in New Mexico. There law enforcement officials have advised that they would immediately notify the Albuquerque FBI Office in the event there are any new occurences of suspected animal mutilations on Indian lands.
On 15 Tuesday, this matter was discussed with Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Smith, U.S. Attorney's Office, Albuquerque. Assistant U.S. Attorney Smith said that in his opinion there is no Federal interest in continuing an investigation in this matter in the absence of further reports of acts of suspected mutilation of animals on Indian lands in New Mexico.