Motive Emerges As To Why Milford Men Killed 20 Chickens: Police

MILFORD, CT — Milford Police say they have arrested two local men in a "gruesome animal cruelty investigation" that occurred in the early morning hours on Christmas Day. The two men are accused of stealing and killing 20 chickens from two locations, police said.

Police said Gregory Ulrich, 28, of Park Avenue, and John Budnovitch, 21, of Valley Road were arrested on Wednesday. Police said the two suspects are accused of leaving a local bar, and with Budnovitch driving, they went on to smash the windows on several vehicles in the village of Devon.

Both Ulrich and Budnovitch went to two places and stole 20 chickens and killed them with their bare hands, police said. Several of the chickens were located in adjacent yard, police said.

The Hartford Courant reports that Ulrich was despondent over seeing images on social media of people with his wife. Ulrich was so angry that he took an ax to cars of people he was mad at and then he stole chickens, the Courant adds.

Police say Ulrich snapped the heads off of the chickens with his hands and at one point said he planned to eat them.

Ulrich is charged with fifth-degree larceny, three counts of first-degree criminal mischief, 10 counts of second-degree criminal mischief, interfering with an officer, and 20 counts of animal cruelty. He was given a $15,000 bond.

Budnovitch is charged with sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, two counts, conspiracy to commit second-degree criminal mischief, six counts, 20 counts of animal cruelty, evading responsibility, and driving a motor vehicle without the owner's permission. He was given a $5,000 bond.

You can read the full Courant story here.