Beatrice woman accused of neglecting horses; sheriff’s office says 17 have died

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Beatrice woman is accused of neglecting several horses at two vet clinics in Gage County.

Jennafer Glaesemann, 38, the owner and veterinarian, was cited Thursday on suspicion of 37 counts of livestock neglect.

Deputies found several carcasses at the Blue Valley Veterinary Clinic in Beatrice in July and had to dig a large pit to properly dispose of the bodies.

But authorities couldn’t tell how many horses there were.

“We didn’t count because they were intertwined and the bodies were decomposing,” said Sgt. Tim Hanson of the Gage County Sheriff’s Office.

Glaesemann told deputies that 11 horses were found the first time they searched the property.

“Then two more died,” Hanson said. “Then three died on one day. And then another one died yesterday, the day of the search warrant.”

Around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, deputies served search warrants at Blue Valley and the Pickrell Veterinary Clinic.

The sheriff’s office said 37 horses were seized.  They were taken to a nearby facility for care and treatment.

SEE ALSO: Hold your horses: Gage County sheriff says animal welfare investigation is ‘complex’

In an affidavit filed Aug. 11, investigators said the warrant was served “due to the large number of deaths of horses over a short period of time.”

Glaesemann sent Channel 8 a statement saying, “Numerous specialists and various diagnostic laboratories have been consulted in this complex case. Liver disease is emerging as a primary differential based on physical examination findings and some test results. Further testing is pending.”

The sheriff’s office said the horses have been removed from the care and control of Glaesemann pending a court hearing.

“We want to take care of the animals,” Hanson said. “We want to make sure due process is afforded to Jennafer Glaesemann. And we also want to make sure that the interests of the public are met.”