A Hawaiian court recently sentenced two men for the abduction and killing of a beloved pet pig named Eddie. In May 2024, the two men stole Eddie from Kitty Charm Farm, an animal sanctuary in Haiku, Maui. The men then killed Eddie to fraudulently win a local hunting contest.
According to reports, on May 11, 2024, Jayden Jarnesky Magana, 18, and Krys-Ryan Saito Carino, 20, trespassed onto the property of Kitty Charm Farm by cutting through a fence.
They then hogtied Eddie, a 250-pound domesticated pig known for his friendly demeanor, and dragged him off the property. The men staged a fake hunting video, depicting themselves pursuing and killing Eddie, which they posted on Instagram.
The men then entered Eddie into a feral pig hunting contest in Makawao, winning the top prize of $1,000, Hawaii News Now reported.
“It was a fraud on the family who put together the hunting contest and tried to run an honest event,” Deputy Prosecutor Mica Metter said in court. “And it was a fraud to the other hunters who entered the contest and tried to do it the right way.”
Community outrage and investigation
Eddie’s death devastated the pig’s owner, Sarah Haynes. She said Eddie was a gentle giant, trained to interact with children, bark like a dog, and shake hands.
The community rallied around Haynes, with many expressing outrage over the incident. Local hunters played a crucial role in the investigation by providing authorities with the staged hunting video. Suspicions were raised due to Eddie’s neutered status and unusually large size for a wild pig.
Legal proceedings and sentencing
Authorities charged Magana and Carino with first-degree animal cruelty, livestock theft, and criminal property damage. Both men pleaded no contest to the charges.
On April 17, 2025, a judge sentenced each man to one night in jail. Magana received an additional four years of probation. During that time, Magana is prohibited from hunting or owning animals.
Magana expressed remorse through a letter read by his attorney in court, stating, “I’ve made a mistake and it was not intentional. I’ve learned a lesson, and I’m not a bad kid. I’ve always been a good kid and never gotten in any trouble.”
Aftermath and increased security
Eddie the pig was adopted by Sarah Haynes a few years ago. She adopted him from a local pig rescue after he was found running around Kihei with scars and rope burns. They believed he was used for hunting dog training. https://t.co/iHRkHVjCSM
— KHON2 News (@KHONnews) April 15, 2025
In response to the incident, Kitty Charm Farm has implemented enhanced security measures. Those include additional security cameras and reinforced fencing. Eddie’s former owner expressed some solace in the probation conditions the judge imposed. She said she hoped Eddie’s death would lead to positive change and raise awareness about animal cruelty.
Published: Apr 17, 2025 04:08 pm