BRADENTON, Fla. — Eladio Garcia Gasca, 50, faced grand theft and animal cruelty charges nearly four years ago. Gasca was found responsible for the gruesome death of a Palmetto horse on December 1, 2019. 

On that date, the owners found that someone had forced through a locked gate, stolen a horse, taken it into a nearby field, killed it, and butchered it while collecting most of the meat.

The sheriff's office said surveillance video released days after the crime and other investigative means helped them place Garcia-Gasca at the scene.

Gasca faced his victims in court on May 30, 2023. 

• He was adjudicated guilty.
• He was sentenced to ten years at the Department of Corrections with credit for time served, followed by ten years of probation. Possibly nine years may be mandatory. It is up to the sheriff's department to calculate the time served.
• Make best efforts to pay restitution.
• No contact with the victim, Clark, and Joni Reeder.
• Gasca is not to return to the victim's property.
• Gasca is prohibited from carrying for, having custody of, or owning any animals, including any livestock, dogs, cats, or birds.
• Sumit biological specimen for FDLE, Florida Department of Law enforcement
• He has 30 days to file an appeal.
• He must report to his probation officer within 24 hours of release.

The sentencing order is found on the Clerk of Court's webpage later. www.manateeclerk.com 

Stolen Horse International - NetPosse Missing and Stolen Equine would like to thank everyone who followed the case and took it seriously.