Carl the Rooster was a staple of the town of Ocean Springs with many adoring fans... and apparently a few enemies too.

On Thursday, April 28, a good Samaritan posted security footage to Facebook that showed a group of people carrying Carl away. Carl's body was later found in Biloxi, where he was confirmed dead.

Because this is a very important story of national significance, we at Not The Bee felt urged – nay, compelled! – to bring you all the details of this sordid crime.

One of the culprits in this poultry murder is a Jones County Correctional officer, Kendra Shaffer, who was charged with animal cruelty related to the case. More charges are expected to follow.

Shaffer was immediately terminated from her job over the incident.

Jones County Sheriff Joe Berlin said of the situation,

We expect those individuals employed by the Jones County Sheriff's Department to perform their duties and live their lives in a professional honorable manner. The criminal charges against Ms. Shaffer by the Ocean Spring Police Department are serious and we do not tolerate or condone this behavior. Her employment termination is immediate.

The tentative date for the funeral is May 10th, the local Sun Herald reported that it will be "a New Orleans-style second-line funeral" to include a local brass band.

I expect it will look something like this:

The town is reportedly already seeing an influx of flowers, rooster statues, and drawings that friends of the beloved town pet have left at some of Carl's favorite downtown hangouts.

Roost in Peace, Carl. You left us too soon.

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