Georgia Family Seeks Justice After Neighbors Kill Autistic Boy's Therapy Pig

A Georgia family is demanding justice after their therapy pig was killed by neighbors, an act that has left their twelve-year-old son deeply traumatized. Garrett Cox, who depends on the animal for emotional support while managing ADHD and autism, lost his forty-pound companion, Bootsy, in a brutal incident near Hoschton, a rural community fifty miles northeast of Atlanta.

The tragedy unfolded last week when Bootsy escaped her enclosure. Shortly thereafter, Garrett's father, Matt Cox, heard a gunshot and tracked the sound to a neighboring residence. Upon arrival, he discovered Bootsy deceased next to a pot of boiling water, surrounded by neighbors in aprons, a scene the family interprets as evidence of a planned meal. When Kerrie Cox confronted the individuals, they responded with laughter rather than remorse.

Law enforcement has since detained three residents: Mai Kia Vang-Moua, fifty-four; Maysy Moua, fifty-nine; and Kee Moua, thirty-three. All three now face aggravated animal cruelty charges. Investigators report that the suspects initially claimed the pig was a wild animal, a statement the Cox family firmly rejects. They point to a livestock ear tag on Bootsy as proof of her status as a domesticated farm animal.

Physical evidence suggests the animal was restrained before being shot at close range. Matt Cox noted a blood-stained rope found beside the body, indicating the pig was held in place during the attack. The family believes the neighbors intended to consume Bootsy, a notion they find abhorrent given the animal's critical role in helping Garrett succeed academically and socially.

Garrett, who recently found purpose training Bootsy for Future Farmers of America competitions, has been devastated by the loss. His confidence, which soared alongside the pig's growth, has plummeted since the death. The family has laid Bootsy to rest near the barn where she lived. If convicted, each defendant could face a prison term of up to five years and a fine of fifteen thousand dollars.