UPDATE@ NOON, Aug. 1: Sheriff Mike Simpson said his office does have evidence that someone killed the nine rabbits at the fair on purpose.
As of noon, Simpson declined to release any details about that information, or the cause of the death for the animals.
The rabbits were housed in two separate barns on the fairgrounds. Simpson said no other animals at the fair were harmed.
Deputies are investigating, and the Preble County Agricultural Society is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible.
UPDATE@ 7:30 a.m.: Investigators are working today to determine how nine rabbits died at the Preble County Fair, said fairgrounds manager James Mays.
Mays said he received the call last night that the animals had died, but would not release any possible cause of death.
"We locked the barn down pretty quick after we found out what happened... within minutes," he said. "We did find nine rabbits that were deceased. But it's still under investigation. We're not really sure exactly how or what happened."
FIRST TAKE, Aug. 1: Extra security was posted at the Preble County Fair overnight in response to reports of tampering with animals, including that some have been killed.
Thursday night, Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson said he deployed more deputies to the property because his office has learned that nine rabbits have died or have been killed over a 14-hour period. There is no evidence that any of the rabbits were poisoned, he said. He declined to go into specifics about how the animals may have been killed.
No other animals have been tampered with, he said.
Many of the rabbits were taken off the fairgrounds on South Franklin Street before deputies could examine them, the sheriff said.
Tonya Barnhart, a Facebook user, said in her post, "rabbits were released early everyone else is staying with their animals." She also noted that "police are walking around" and that "we r [sic] not allowed to leave the barns."
Simpson said 4H advisers did encourage children who had rabbits scheduled to appear in the Jr. Fair Market Livestock Sale this morning to stay with their animals overnight. Children whose rabbits were not going to be in the sale were encouraged to take their animals home early.
Exhibitors who ended Thursday night's session of the fair with their animals were told to remain with them. Other exhibitors who wanted to stay in their trailers or recreational vehicles were told to remain in their vehicles to cut down on the number of people walking around the grounds late at night, the sheriff said.
Simpson said there is nothing to rumors that animals throughout the grounds are being abused. harmed or killed.
The extra security was added to the usual and regular patrols and 4H advisers, he said.
The 164th fair, which began July 26, ends Saturday.
Anyone who has information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 937-456-6262.
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