WINCHENDON — A Texas longhorn skull stolen from Murdock Farm and Dairy Bar last week has been found and returned intact.
The skull of Kiley, a longhorn cow that Murdock Farm co-owner Andy Brooks Jr. reported stolen last Friday, was found the afternoon of Tuesday, July 18.
Brooks said he raises Texas longhorns — an American breed of beef cattle characterized by its horns that can span more than 8 feet — and Kiley was the first, eventually dying of old age. He kept the skull and hung it in the barn at Murdock Farm. The skull measures 7 feet long from horn tip to horn tip.
While the barn is technically private, people can walk in to see it and the cows. Located at 62 Elmwood Road in Winchendon, the dairy bar is a popular spot to purchase locally made ice cream and has been around since 1964.
Brooks said that after the theft, he installed a Tactacam Reveal trail camera in the barn that the skull had been displayed in, in case someone brought it back or attempted another theft.
That afternoon around 5:30 p.m., he received a notification on his phone that the camera had spotted someone in the barn. Photos sent by the camera showed three juveniles going through Brooks’ things and he ran right over. The youths fled and went to a nearby home, where the skull was clearly visible in the backyard. The youths claimed to have no idea how it got there.
Brooks said the three juveniles have been charged by Winchendon Police with breaking and entering. The skull has been returned to the barn with no damage, and though Brooks has no plans to limit future access to the public, he does intend to install more cameras.
Following the theft, Brooks began offering a $200 reward, which quickly grew to $2,000 through donations. That money will be returned, and he spoke highly of the community support he’s seen.
“It’s just incredible how many people came to help or tried to help and wanted to help,” he said. “It’s a great community to be in.”
Max Bowen can be reached at 413-930-4074 or mbowen@recorder.com.
