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82 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 7, 2004 Teenager admits to strangling Murphy’s store hen A Cave Junction teen has been charged Thursday with animal abuse after admitting to a sheriff’s deputy that he killed Speckles — a celebrity hen who made her home at a Murphy supermarket. Adam M. Abbey, 18, of Cave Junction was cited on a charge of first-degree aggravated animal abuse, a class "C" felony. Josephine County sheriff’s Lt. Lee Harman said deputies did not arrest Abbey because he has no prior criminal record and cooperated with police investigating Speckles’ death. On Sunday morning, Speckles was found dead on the doorstep of Ray’s Food Place, 7200 Williams Highway. The discovery prompted a community outcry, with a local businessman offering $500 to anyone who turned in the chicken killer. The sheriff’s office received an anonymous call with information that Abbey was to blame for Speckles’ death. Abbey found out police were looking for him, and went to a sheriff’s substation in Cave Junction. Abbey told a deputy that he went to Ray’s on Saturday night to use a pay phone. He said he wrung Speckles’ neck because the chicken "had a limp, and he wanted to put it out of its misery," Harman said. Abbey admitted to drinking beer and hard alcohol before arriving at the supermarket, Harman said. Speckles first made news in March, when Williams resident Nick Gombos was arrested after taking Speckles from the supermarket. Gombos assumed the chicken had been abandoned. Gombos kept Speckles for five days until sheriff’s deputies arrived at his home March 24 to retrieve the bird, which was cared for by supermarket staff. Gombos was charged with third-degree theft and interfering with an officer after allegedly refusing to give Speckles to deputies. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times