BURSTA Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School student is looking for answers after her horse was found slain by an apparent arrow.
Every day for the last several years, before she catches the bus to go to school, Deka Lake’s Kamerin Scott has stopped by her horse paddock to say goodbye to her mare, Sophia. However, on Wednesday, April 22, she was devastated to find her companion of six years dead.
“Sophia has her little standing spot. I went over there and I found her dead. I assumed she wasn’t murdered because why would somebody murder her, but then I saw she was shot,” Scott recalled. “My heart just broke. I screamed from the second I saw it until I got back to the house and hours afterwards. It was the most horrifying thing I’ve ever seen. It was like finding my little baby dead out there.”
Originally from Chilliwack, Scott said she has always loved horses and has been taking part in rodeos with Sophia and another horse her family owns. Sophia has had her horse since 2020, but Scott knew the mare while growing up, noting they are both 17 and their birthdays are a few weeks apart.
Scott said her family contacted the 100 Mile House RCMP, who sent out an officer to investigate. Sgt. Brian Lamb confirmed his detachment is investigating, but said they have no further details to share at this time.
“We thought, why would somebody do that? The police confirmed they are sure it wasn’t a targeted thing. We think somebody just did it,” Scott said. “There’s no way it could be an accident because of the way she was shot. This person came into our property, shot her, and then pulled the arrow back out.”
Scott and her family assume that sometime during the night or morning of April 22, an individual shot Sophia in her side, while facing the road, meaning they’d come onto their property intentionally. Whatever hit the horse punctured her lung, ultimately causing her death.
Outside of the personal loss, Scott said Sophia was beloved by the local community and that many knew her. She is hopeful that by sharing the story of what happened, they’ll be able to generate leads and get some measure of justice for her horse.
She also wants people to be careful and watch their animals closely over the next few weeks. Scott noted there have been a few strange happenings in the Deka Lake area lately, but nothing like this.
“I would really like people to stay vigilant about it. I want to make sure people are being cautious about their animals. I never thought this would happen, and it did,” Scott said. “I really just want help finding this person.”
As for what she’d say to whoever did this, Scott said that at this time, she wants them and whoever else would think about hurting an animal or person in this way to get help.
“I hope they seek help. I hope people don’t act on this stuff because I really believe there is help for people,” Scott said. “I’m honestly very angry, but I don’t even know if I’m at the point of completely blaming someone because I think you have to be sick in the head to do this. I just hope people get help.
“I’m devastated. I hope people see this horse was my life, and she’s dead for no reason.”
The 100 Mile House RCMP can be contacted at 250-395-2456.