A very disturbing story as a Seattle man has died following a bizarre case of bestiality.
Detectives are investigating the possibility an Enumclaw farm was the base for a ring that abuses animals for sex. And what they've done is not illegal in Washington State.
In a picture-perfect corner of rural King County, Sheriff's investigators uncovered a dirty little mess: Men having sex with animals at a small farm outside of Enumclaw.
The private gatherings became public when a 45-year-old Seattle man died after having sex with an Arabian stallion.
The medical examiner says the death is accidental.
"If this pans out, it's the most egregious case that we've heard of," says Sgt. John Urquhart with the King County Sheriff's Office. "We don't have deaths that result from this activity, nobody can remember when anything like this has ever happened."
Investigators believe this farm may have become a hot spot for sex with animals, with people learning about it through Internet chat rooms. They don't know how long it's been going on, although the man at the center has rented the farm for about six years.
Investigators also don't know if the sex is in exchange for money.
"I think it's most likely just given the nature of this type of activity," says Urquhart, "but we don't know for sure."
Investigators don't know yet how many animals were used in this way. One thing they do know for certain: the incident with the horse where the man died happened in someone else's barn.
They know that because the entire incident was caught on videotape, one of more than 100 tapes police took from the farm.
The neighbors had no idea their barn and horses were being used for sex. They don't want their names, or faces or property shown, they told me they are freaked out and repulsed by what investigators say happened.
However, having sex with animals is not against the law in Washington State. he Humane Society of the U.S. says it should be and talks about other cases.
"Smaller animals have been seriously injured and/or killed," says Regional Director Bob Reder. "Or, after the act, disposed of by horrible means."
While the Sheriff's office investigates any grounds for animal cruelty charges, for the moment, the animals are still at the farm.
At least 30 state have laws outlawing bestiality. The Humane Society, together with Pasado's Save Have are both beginning campaigns to make it against the law in Washington as well.
