PHOTO PROVIDED Bo, a gray-dappled pony, was shot by an unknown actor last month.

HUGHESVILLE Pennsylvania State Police in Montoursville continue to investigate the death of a much-loved pony that occurred last month.

According to PSP Trooper Brown, sometime after 10 p.m. on Friday, June 14 or the early morning hours of Saturday, June 15, someone shot the gray-dappled pony belonging to Jesse Snyder.

Jesse, the daughter of Joseph and Trudy Snyder, 3687 Beaver Lake Road, has lovingly cared for Bo, the pony, since she was 12 years old. Now 22, Jesse remains heartbroken over the loss of her companion that she has raised for the last decade.

Because the homestead is tucked among the hills of Hughesville, it’s not uncommon to hear a shotgun now and again, Joe said, as oftentimes farmers attempt to eradicate groundhogs and other predatory animals.

“Jesse had been out to feed [them] around 10 o’clock Friday night,” Joe said, adding that the next morning a passing neighbor made the grisly discovery as the pony lay in its pasture next to the barn.

Trooper Brown said that the pony had been shot twice in the head from an estimated distance of 10 yards away from where the animal’s body was found.

“Right between the eyes,” Joe said. “It was no accident.”

Two other horses, also in the pasture at the time of the incident, were not harmed, Jesse said, but have been skittish ever since. Even a month later they visit the spot where Bo died and lay in the dirt there, Jesse said, adding, “They watched what happened [that night].”

“Bo was a special horse to us,” Joe said, explaining that caring for Bo had helped turned Jesse’s teenage life around.

“What kind of person do you have to be to do something like that?” Trudy said.

Additionally, the family was contacted by Trooper Akers, who is considering turning the investigation into a criminal case, which would involve a necropsy, a surgical examination of a dead animal. Even though Bo has been buried on the farm property, his remains would need to be exhumed in order for the procedure to occur, a cost the family is hesitant to pursue.

“We aren’t offering a reward for information, either,” Joe said. “We shouldn’t have to reward someone for being honest.”

State police recommended sharing the information on Facebook to quickly circulate the news among the community, which Snyder did July 9.

Anything with information regarding the incident should contact Trooper Brown at 570.368.5700.