Police in Alaska puzzled by 26 headless chickens

[May 27, 2010]  FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) -- Alaska State Troopers are puzzled by a gruesome discovery in the city of North Pole: 26 headless chickens carefully arranged at a coop.

Police say the fly-infested carcasses found Monday were arranged in a 12- to 15-foot-long line pattern that ended in a circle. There was no sign of the missing heads.

Three chickens were left unharmed, and there was no damage to the coop.

Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters says officers "have no idea what the thought process was."

They say there's a possibility that the killings were intended as a threat. Those responsible could be charged with felony criminal mischief.

The birds were unsuitable for eating, so investigators disposed of the chickens after photographing the scene.

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Information from: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, http://www.newsminer.com/

[Associated Press]

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