Alleged goat strangler held on $1 million bail

A 22-year-old man was jailed Tuesday on $1 million bail in El Dorado County, Calif., on suspicion of fatally strangling 10 goats from his ex-girlfriend's family's 4-H ranch.

Ryan Troyer, a Folsom, Calif., resident, was charged with 10 counts of felony animal cruelty and one count of grand theft for killing the goats, which were valued at $5,000 by the family.

After killing them, Troyer allegedly placed one goat carcass in a West Slope residential neighborhood and one in a graveyard.

He killed some goats at the ranch itself, and some he took off the ranch and then killed, according to El Dorado County Sheriff's Department Lt. Marc Adams.

Troyer was arrested March 19 after his ex-girlfriend called the sheriff's office when she discovered him with a goat in the barn.

The goat fled after Troyer let it go, the woman reported, indicating to her there was something suspicious going on, Adams said.

Troyer later allegedly confessed to the woman he had killed 10 of their goats since December.

Bail was raised from $150,000 to $1 million at Tuesday's arraignment.

In addition to the charges, the judge's order says the defendant "cannot own, possess, care or be around animals" and that his residence was subject to search, according to a statement by the county's health department.

The sheriff's office and animal control are jointly investigating the case, according to Henry Brzezinski, chief animal control officer for El Dorado County.

"We are concerned about the serious nature of this crime against animals and are actively collecting evidence," Brzezinski said.

Adams said the man did not have any prior history of violence to animals or people.