Three teenagers accused of kidnapping, killing, and eating a beloved swan named Fay from a pond in Manlius, New York, have been identified as refugees from Myanmar, according to a report by The Washington Free Beacon.
The incident occurred last Saturday when Fay and her four cygnets were taken from the Manlius swan pond. The suspects, 18-year-old Eman Hussan and two others, were charged with felony grand larceny and criminal mischief. When taken into custody, Hussan was seen smiling at reporters.
Manlius Police Sergeant Ken Hatter confirmed to The Washington Free Beacon that the three suspects are refugees from Myanmar who attend high school in the Syracuse area. If found guilty, the teens could face deportation under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows for the removal of offenders who commit aggravated felonies or “crimes involving moral turpitude.”
Police reported that the suspects jumped a fence late at night and were able to capture Fay while she was nesting, making her unable to defend herself. They then took the swan home and cooked her for dinner. Fay’s cygnets were also taken but were later recovered unharmed by authorities.
A biologist working with the village of Manlius is currently caring for the young swans until they are ready to be released. The suspects reportedly told police they had intended to raise the cygnets as pets.
Family and friends of the suspects claimed they did not realize it was a swan they had taken, believing instead that it was a large duck. They also said they were unaware that the bird was a protected wild animal and a cherished symbol of the community.
Police noted that the teens “didn’t necessarily show remorse” but likely regretted their actions. They were apparently unaware that Fay was considered a mascot of Manlius, a town with a lineage of swans dating back over 100 years. The tradition began when the swans and the pond were donated to the village in 1905. Despite the incident, the mayor stated the town plans to continue this tradition.
The community is grieving the loss of Fay and her iconic partner, known as the Manlius mascots, with memorials being placed around the town.
This is the second recent case involving immigrants killing and planning to eat a protected bird. In March, two illegal migrants from Honduras were arrested for shooting an American bald eagle in Nebraska with the intention of cooking and eating it.
The tragic event has sparked outrage, with over 5,630 people signing a petition titled “Justice For Faye,” calling for the maximum penalties for the suspects. The petition argues, “The highest charges possible need to be sought. Who’s to say they wouldn’t do this to a human being if they did this to an innocent animal?”
To prevent similar incidents, the Mayor announced plans to install surveillance cameras and develop a safety strategy to protect the swans, ensuring that there will be “eyes on the pond at all times.”