Sechrist Lake swan. (Photo provided)

Despite the eyewitness accounts of what seemed to be the brutal beating death of a mute swan on Sechrist Lake last Saturday, Indiana Conservation officers investigating the incident have found no violations with the kill method.

Jack and Rhonda Doyle said they watched helplessly from their pier as three men in a pontoon – which included at least George Hiatt – came onto Sechrist Lake and headed straight for a pair of mute swans that the Doyles, and many other lake residents, have enjoyed for years. What they said they saw next has haunted them relentlessly ever since.

The Doyles said they saw the men shoot the male swan with a pellet gun, use a kayak to row out and rope the bird and drag its still fighting body to the boat, and mercilessly beat it to death with a boat oar. However, as investigating officers Nathan Hooley and Ashlee Jackson have determined in speaking with the Doyles and the three men who took part in the killing, it does not appear that the men violated Department of Natural Resources rules.

Lt. William Browne is the public relations officer for the law enforcement side of the DNR. He was given the officers preliminary findings and told StaceyPageOnline.com today that, “They were in compliance with the law.”

Seeing the magnitude of the public outcry, the officers expedited their investigation on Tuesday. Initially, the men involved were to be interviewed at the lake by officers on Thursday, but, “We encouraged them to get it done sooner, rather than later,” said Lt. Browne.

Officers spoke with all three men separately yesterday and, based on the preliminary report, Lt. Browne said, “The officers believe strongly the men are telling the truth. The Doyles believe what they saw too, and they’re not trying to deceive anyone, but what they saw may not have been what they thought they saw.”

According to Lt. Browne, the men, whom the DNR have not identified other than Hiatt, each told the officers that only a pellet gun was used to euthanize the swans. According to the findings, he added, “The men said the paddle was used to get (the boat) out of the mud and muck and it was used to reach the dead bird and pull it to the boat. Did anyone actually see the paddle strike the swan? No one did. Due to the position of the pontoon the Doyles couldn’t see the paddle actually hitting the bird.”

Further, Hiatt and the two other men provided statements saying the swans each died from being struck by the pellet gun. “There were entrance and exit wounds on each of the birds,” said Lt. Browne, although he admitted the law requires the birds to be destroyed within 48 hours of the killing, meaning the investigating officers saw no evidence to verify the men’s claims. Reading from the preliminary investigation findings, Lt. Browne added, “There is no evidence that blunt force trauma was used.”

Furthermore, Lt. Browne explained that the acceptable use of weapons for taking nuisance animals is found under 312 Indiana Administration Code Section 8-1.5-8 which defines weapons as a firearm, an air gun, a CO2 gun, a spear gun, a bow and arrows, a crossbow, and “a similar mechanical device that can be discharged and is capable of causing injury or death to a person or an animal or damage to property.”

Lt. Browne defended the conservation officers and their investigating skills saying the men are skillfully trained. “They went in completely with their eyes, minds and hearts wide open. They don’t have a stake in this,” he said. “They get paid to do their job regardless of the outcome.”

A separate claim made by Little Barbee resident Ron Nowaczynski that the same three men had taken roughly 20 shots at a single swan near the shores on that lake Saturday were not investigated by the DNR. Lt. Browne said that is because there was no reported property damage.

Hiatt is named on the permit from the DNR as someone authorized to take mute swans, but only as an assistant in the presence of Chuck Brinkman, who actually holds the permit.

Lt. Browne assured the results provided to StaceyPageOnline.com today are strictly preliminary and the investigation and a complete report is expected by the end of the week.