Residents report illegal slaughtering, carcass dumping near Highway 41A; county coordinating with state investigators

Multiple Bedford County residents told the Public Safety Committee on June 10 that a makeshift slaughter operation at a property on Highway 41A North has been slaughtering animals overnight, burying carcasses shallowly and dumping remains into a creek that drains into the Duck River.

Jeremy Henderson, who identified himself as a nearby resident, said “they were dumping remains into the into the creek.” Jesse Warwick told the committee the activity had continued despite what he said were state setbacks and added that the remains were being buried too close to the waterway.

The complaints named an address on file as 2985 Highway 41A North. Director White of the county planning department told the committee county staff have been working with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and that a new state investigator was assigned that day. “They now have a new supervisor. They assigned us a new investigator today,” White said. Josie from animal control confirmed the address on record as 2985 Highway 41A North and said animal-control staff can assist the state vet on welfare and disposal questions.

Residents described visible and recurring problems. One speaker said he counted about 151 goats and sheep and 15 cows on the property in May and reported seeing carcasses and shallow graves; another said he watched workers load remains into wheelbarrows and dump them into the creek. Don Lynch, who said he lives next door, said the odors and flies have become severe and that he had observed animals and remains left exposed.

Sheriff’s Office representatives told the committee the county will assist but that many enforcement steps fall to state agencies. The sheriff said he told state investigators to call local law enforcement immediately if they need on‑site support: “If you call us and we go out there and we see these carcasses laying around, we’re not leaving until the state gets there.” The sheriff and a deputy both said the Department of Agriculture’s livestock/crime unit and the USDA are involved and that jurisdictional protocol determines who leads criminal or regulatory actions.

Director White described limits on county authority. She said the property is zoned agriculture, not industrial, and that the county can pursue zoning violations but that criminal enforcement and commercial‑slaughter regulation are handled by the state and federal agencies. White asked residents with photos or video to share them with county staff to strengthen the record: “the more evidence we have, then the better case…against them.”

Speakers raised public‑health and environmental concerns because the stream near the site flows toward the Duck River, a regional water source. Farmers downstream said buzzard activity around carcasses is increasing and that scavengers can harm newborn calves.

No formal county action or vote was taken at the meeting; the item was raised during the public‑comment period. County staff reported they are coordinating with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the USDA, that a new state investigator has been assigned, and that animal‑control and sheriff’s office personnel will respond to on‑site reports and photograph evidence when residents call. Residents were directed to provide photos, video and specific dates to county staff and law enforcement to support the ongoing investigation.

The Public Safety Committee closed the public‑comment portion of the meeting after multiple speakers urged faster state action and clearer follow up from county departments.