The Blaine County Sheriff's Office is investigating a bizarre incident near Carey earlier this month in which a hunters' camp was destroyed by fire and two dogs were shot in the head and their bodies burned.
"We're trying to figure out who would do something like this," Sheriff's Lt. Steve Harkins said Monday.
Harkins said the incident occurred the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 16, up Bowns Canyon near Fish Creek Reservoir northeast of Carey.
The investigation is somewhat complicated because it wasn't reported until a few days later. Harkins said investigators have scant evidence in the case and are hoping that someone knows or saw something that will lead to the culprit or culprits.
"Someone's got to be talking about this, I've got to think," Harkins said. "Several witnesses saw smoke and flames. Someone hopefully saw this."
Harkins explained that the victims, a Twin Falls couple, had set up a large tent, tied four horses near it and left their two dogs at the camp while the couple hiked to a nearby summit. One dog, a Doberman pinscher, was left inside the tent in a kennel, while the other, a border collie, was running loose.
Around 4 p.m. the couple saw smoke coming from the area of the camp. The returned to find that catastrophe. Both dogs were dead and their bodies had been thrown in the conflagration, but the horses had been moved well away from the area and were tied to some trees.
Witnesses reported two different suspect vehicles in the area at the time of the fire, but Harkins said it's not known if the vehicles were involved in the incident.
One of the vehicles was a large "cherry red" pickup with dual wheels in the back. It was seen leaving the area pulling a large white or silver horse trailer. The other vehicle, described as a "white four-by-four," was seen driven by a man, estimated to be in his 30s, who was accompanied by a woman passenger and had a bow and arrow set mounted in the back window.
Harkins said the culprit or culprits could face a multitude of charges, including arson and cruelty to animals.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Harkins at (208) 788-5515.
