News

Turtle Mountain Pork moves forward after the shooting incident

By Scott Wagar

04/14/2015

With the recent double homicide at Turtle Mountain Pork (TMP) near Souris, there have been concerns in the area communities about the well-being of the hogs after the incident occurred, and the outcome it will have on the local livestock business.

“We have a team in place to care for the pigs at Turtle Mountain Pork,” said Dr. Jason Hooker, spokesperson for AMVC which owns Turtle Mountain Pork out of Audubon, Iowa. “We are confident this incident did not and will not create any lasting issues for the health of the pigs at Turtle Mountain Pork or concerns about food safety and public health.”

Since the shootings occurred, and the large amount of traffic in and out of the barns during the initial investigation of the shootings, residents in the county have shown concern for the pigs at TMP because the company has strict rules in place to protect the health of its pigs, which are very susceptible to diseases. 

During normal working hours, only TMP employees are allowed in the barns to keep any outside diseases away from the pigs.  

However, even with the investigation that took place in the barns, Hocker stated that the pigs have been cared for and are doing well.      

“All of the pigs were not removed from the farm,” Hocker said.

“The pigs at Turtle Mountain Pork are doing very well. The team at the farm has done a tremendous job of bonding together to continue to do their best job of raising and caring for the pigs at Turtle Mountain Pork.”

On March 24, Jeremy Rodriguez Rios shot and killed Christopher Sluder and Brian Story, two employees of the Turtle Mountain Pork, after a verbal altercation took place the day before with some of the employees’ performances in the hog barns, which included Rios.

The murders are still under investigation.