Rancher gives $5K reward for help finding cattle killers

PENDLETON, Ore. – An Oregon rancher has given a man a $5,000 reward for helping find and convict the two men who slaughtered his cattle.

Rancher Terry Anderson found the body parts of one of his cattle scattered last year after an employee told him there was a problem at one of his pastures near Stanfield, the East Oregonian reported.

“The kid was just in complete shock,” Anderson remembers. “It’s more than emotional. Those cattle are family to us.”

The men who committed the act talked about it freely in front of Grant Woods, 21, while he was with a mutual friend. The men wanted to use the cattle meat to get money for beer, according to Woods.

Woods said he decided to call police and report the crime before learning of the reward money.

“It was just completely wrong,” Woods said. “This was about doing the right thing.”

With Woods’ help, Anthony Haigh, of Stanfield, and T.J. Kestler, of Hermiston, were arrested four days later and sentenced to prison, probation and community service hours for the crime. They both plead guilty to first-degree theft. They will also have to pay $3,000 in restitution.

Woods met with Anderson and his wife, Debby, on Friday to receive his reward.

“Our society has created a mindset that if this type of activity doesn’t affect you directly, there is no need to get involved,” Anderson said. “Thankfully, there are individuals that are still guided by doing the right thing.”

The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association gave Woods another $1000 reward. The association has offered many rewards for cattle thefts, but Executive Director Jerome Rosa said it was the first time it’s paid in the three years he has worked here.