Three Georgia neighbors face felony charges after allegedly shooting a 12-year-old boy’s 400-pound therapy pig and preparing to butcher the animal, despite visible livestock identification tags that clearly marked it as private property.
Story Snapshot
- Garrett Cox’s therapy pig Bootsy was shot after escaping its pen in Jackson County, Georgia
- Parents discovered three neighbors in aprons and gloves standing near the dead pig with boiling water prepared
- Suspects claimed they mistook the tagged show pig for a wild feral hog
- All three neighbors arrested on aggravated animal cruelty charges carrying up to five years in prison
Therapy Pig Killed on Neighbor’s Property
Garrett Cox, a 12-year-old boy in rural Jackson County, Georgia, lost his therapy pig Bootsy when the 400-pound show pig escaped its pen in late October 2024. The animal, which served as emotional support for Garrett and was described by his family as his “past, present, future,” wandered onto neighboring property. Matt Cox heard a gunshot and traced it to his neighbors’ home, where he made a disturbing discovery that would lead to three arrests.
Family Confronts Neighbors Preparing to Butcher Animal
Matt and Kerrie Cox arrived at their neighbors’ property to find three people—Mai Kia Vang-Moua, 54, Maysy Moua, 59, and Kee Moua, 33—wearing aprons and gloves, standing near Bootsy’s body with a pot of boiling water. The scene suggested they were preparing to scald and butcher the pig, a standard method for processing hogs. The family immediately questioned the neighbors, with Kerrie Cox stating “You knew she was our pig.” The suspects claimed they believed Bootsy was a wild feral pig, despite the animal wearing a visible livestock ear tag that clearly identified it as a domestic farm animal, not wild game.
Georgia Law Distinguishes Domestic From Feral Pigs
Georgia law requires domestic pigs to carry ear tags and permits, while feral hogs—an invasive species causing over $100 million in annual agricultural damage statewide—can be hunted year-round without restriction. Jackson County’s rural setting creates situations where livestock and feral pig territories overlap, but the legal distinction is clear. Under Georgia statute O.C.G.A. § 16-12-4, killing a tagged domestic animal constitutes felony aggravated animal cruelty. The visible ear tag on Bootsy should have immediately alerted the neighbors that this was not a wild animal, making their claim of mistaken identity difficult to defend legally.
Cultural Context Complicates Rural Neighbor Dispute
The suspects’ Hmong heritage adds cultural complexity to the case, as Hmong communities in Georgia, established through refugee resettlement, traditionally hunt feral pigs. However, this cultural practice does not override state livestock protection laws. Similar incidents have occurred in northeast Georgia, including a 2019 Hall County case where a neighbor shot a tagged potbelly pig, though charges were ultimately dropped. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed all three suspects were arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony carrying up to five years imprisonment. The ongoing investigation will determine whether the ear tag was truly visible and whether the neighbors acted with criminal intent or genuine confusion.
Three ghoulish neighbors allegedly killed boy’s therapy pig, then were found in aprons near boiling pot of water "There was a rope with blood on it beside her body." https://t.co/jowEGYAO0R pic.twitter.com/Q9anOQKzx0
— UnfilteredAmerica (@NahBabyNahNah) May 7, 2026
The Cox family buried Bootsy near their barn, while Garrett mourns the loss of his therapy animal. The case highlights tensions between property rights, livestock ownership, and cultural hunting practices in rural communities. For families relying on therapy animals for children with special needs, this tragedy underscores the importance of secure fencing and clear communication with neighbors about domestic animals. The suspects were likely released on bond pending trial, though no court date has been publicly announced as of the initial November 2024 reporting.
Sources:
‘Why would you do this?’ Boy mourns therapy pig killed by neighbors in east Georgia – WSB-TV
Jackson boy loses therapy pig in neighborhood shooting – FOX5 Atlanta