Investigators search former lieutenant’s home for deer’s remains
February 3rd, 2009 by Ana X. CeronINDIANTOWN — State investigators have searched the home of a former Martin County Sheriff’s lieutenant and are now waiting on DNA test results to determine whether the remains of a pet deer reported stolen last year were buried in his yard.
Baby, the 9-year-old whitetail buck reported missing.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been investigating the theft of the captive whitetail deer from the home of Rick and Grace Sheltra since September.
Weeks later, a criminal investigation led officials to a home at Fox Brown Road where, court records indicate, then-sheriff’s Lt. James Fogleman, 52, and his 22-year-old son, James Dylan Fogleman, reside.
Now officials are waiting to see whether deer remains found at the Foglemans’ home and at a second location are those of the missing deer, Baby.
The person responsible for the buck’s theft could face felony charges of armed trespassing and theft, FWC spokeswoman Gabriella Ferraro said. So far no charges have been filed.
Investigators arrived at the Foglemans’ home Oct. 7 to look for the deer’s head and antlers. What they found instead was a 40-foot-wide section of freshly turned soil, records state.
The next day, two things happened, according to sheriff’s officials and court records: Fogleman submitted his retirement paperwork, and investigators obtained a warrant to search his property.
That same week, a sheriff’s detective was investigating an allegation that Dylan Fogleman had shot and killed a deer from the Sheltras’ property on Canal Road, the documents show. There was also a report that a picture of Dylan posing with Baby had been taken. The deer had a 19-point rack and was reportedly worth more than $20,000.
Investigators then found a deer carcass off State Road 710 about a half-mile north of the Brady Ranch. The remains seemed to be several days old, although the head was missing, investigators said. A crime scene team took DNA samples.
When investigators asked James Fogleman about the freshly turned soil, he said he had done the work, according to court documents. He said he planned to move some dirt around in the yard, but the tractor he used was running low on fuel so he returned it to its owner.
Grace Sheltra said on Tuesday that she had given FWC an old horn that Baby shed last year to compare with the DNA samples .
“All I know is that the DNA should be coming back any time,” Sheltra said.
The Foglemans could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Staff researcher Niels Heimeriks contributed to this story.
Grace Sheltra looks out at the yard where her deer, Baby, used to roam before she discovered him missing in September. Photo by Amanda Voisard.
Tags: Canal Road, deer, DNA, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fox Brown Road, James Dylan Fogleman, James Fogleman, Sheltra, whitetail
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February 3rd, 2009 at 9:16 pm
What a sad story. Baby looks like a sweet creature. I am glad that the police took this case seriously and did a great job.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 pm
I hope he spends time behind bars. This animal trusted humans and probably died a horrific death because of that trust. We should rethink keeping and/or taming wild animals - it does them no favors.
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I find it ironic for a few reasons.
1. This is someone that I’m sure has given plenty of lectures to the “public” about right and wrong.
2. The remains were left near the Brady Ranch of all places. The Brady is nothing more than “canned hunts”. You pay a fee to kill a tame “exotic” animal that has been hand fed since birth.
I hunt and kill wild animals but with fair chase. I have never and will never participate in a canned hunt even though I can afford it. That’s just harvesting, not hunting and I would be embarassed to show anyone a picture of me with an animal that was a pet that I killed. That’s the same as a picture next to your neighbors mounted cat. They are not hunters they are theives!
I have had many days hunting that I didn’t kill anything or let a small deer walk because I am a “hunter”.
Giving the benefit of the doubt, if it wasn’t them (yeah right)whoever did this should be ashamed of themselves!
I am proud of FWC for following up on this and I hope that their efforts are worth while and the judge does the right thing.
These guys give true hunters a bad name.
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Sick people, real men huh, big hunters…
The animal trusted people and those who did this were not worthy of it!Punish them to the fullest extent of the law!!
and a law ENFORCEMENT officer to boot, teaching his son bad morals,and tarnishing the image of the good sheriff’s out there.So tired of hearing this sort of thing.
Poor form, sorry “sportsmanship”!!
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Hey Matt,
You say you ” hunt and kill wild animals but with fair chase.” Do you kill with a gun, a knife, stones…or with your bare hands? Tell us which it is and then we will decide if it is fair. I vote for wildlife…uneducated, hillbilly, pickup truck driving rednecks are a huge turnoff.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:29 am
Interesting name Fogelman. I wonder if he was one of the Fogelman who ran roughshod in the PBCSO.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:51 am
A pet deer? It is cruel and inhumane to trap and keep deers in captivity. Is is cruel to kill deer? Ask our founding fathers, they seem to have gone through a bunch of them in their quest for food and clothing. I am going to join all the animal lovers groups…the day after every hungry, abused, mistreated, abandoned and sickly child on the planet is cared for. Until then, I encourage others to check their priorities. Pet supplies is a multi BILLION dollar a year industry….that money sure would help a lot of humans. But, what the hell, we got more humans than deer…….
February 4th, 2009 at 3:58 am
chop off dylan’s head and post it at the sheriff’ dept.
the father knew about the crime and filed the paperwork to retire to protect his money.
sorry JAMES that doesn’t apply when you are involved in a felony.
take away his retirement pay.
February 4th, 2009 at 7:56 am
I can’t imagine anyone killing such a beautiful animal. Baby was also someones cherished pet… how dare they take a life of a precious animal.
May the guilty party get the maximum sentence under the law.
They deserve worse!
February 4th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Frankie Denise is a fool! You rather eat meat from an animal that is trapped in a pen? That is because you are a weak sloth waiting for your food to be served to you. What an idiotic comment. When the times get real hard and you can not get your dinner from Walmart our hunting skills will be able to feed our family. Obviously, the people that killed this deer are a disgrace and hopefully will be brought to justice. However, that has little to do with people who drive trucks or hunt. Also, judging by your “uneducated” comment, it is pretty clear that no one is trying to turn you on:)
February 4th, 2009 at 8:29 am
BURY HIM he deserves it……
February 4th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Heart Bleeds, Maybe you should check your priorities. Humans are always looking for a handout. Why don’t they start helping themselves. People are responsible for the hungry, abandoned, mistreated and abused children. People do that, not animals. That beautiful, well cared for deer should not have died just so a gutless man with no morals could have a head to mount on his wall. I’m sure our founding fathers would have shot or hung anyone who tresspassed and killed their livestock. Where is the respect for others’ property? Baby was a pet, not a wild deer, so if you have a heart, imagine how you would feel if someone came onto your property and killed your dog or horse. It was wrong what they did and should be punished. It’s too bad the punishment isn’t the same as the crime. Mount that head!
To Rick and Grace, I’m truly sorry for your loss. I know how it is to lose a pet. My heart goes out to you.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Guilty, Gulity, Gulity
February 4th, 2009 at 11:08 am
To all you people who are so quick to judge… You all need a reality check. The most sad thing about this situation is that a former lieutenant is being blamed for some B.S. that no one can prove. All the years that he stood beside that town and its people, and this is how you repay him? The truth will come about! When it does, you will all scurry back to your little holes you call life… Godbless and Amen
February 4th, 2009 at 11:19 am
I don’t believe in killing for a mount. I do believe in hunting for food. What happened to Baby is a crime and if this man and his son did this then they should lose their freedom. How horrible this crime is and the way things are going we might all be out there hunting for our food pretty soon. I too have lost pets and know how it feels and it can be like losing a child. I pray for Rick and Grace and also for the Foglemans.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Wow, it takes a big man to kill a pet deer. I’m so sorry for the owners. If that DNA comes back it’s Baby, they need to sue the pants off this guy. To some people, their pets are like their children. Law enforcement, like our local politicians, think their above the law, lie cheat steal…We should put him in jail with McCarty and all the other politicians who are thieves. You know all the ones who have taken thousands and thousands from us taxpayers to line their pockets, buy luxury homes, cars, and vacation homes in Maine, etc….Nice image for the sheriff’s department, really brave lieutenant, shooting an innocent deer kept as a pet. String this guy up and enforce the strictest laws on him if he did it. Can’t wait till the DNA comes through, but it will never heal the heartbreak of the owners, just know “Baby” is safe up with God and this pathetic excuse for a man/hunter is punished. And to teach his son to do this, oh boy, what a poor excuse for a man.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
We are susposed to be fair and compassionate stewards of the animals on our planet and the enviroment.Sometimes I am ashamed of how we handle this God given responsibility.
We are honor bound to protect all the weaker species,yes children, and ALSO the VOICELESS, MONEYLESS victims of animal cruelty and neglect, animals deserve to be treated with compassion and respect for the role they play in sustaining our lives here on earth. Particularly a law enforcement officer is held to a higher standard and they should be held accountible and punished to the fullest extent of the law, his son too. We’ll find out soon enough,so far the “mounting” evudence doesn’t look too good for the officer, a poor choice he made to end his career like this.
February 4th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Shame on all of you for such hate mail. This Lt. has devoted him life to Protect and Serve and that means all of
you haters. I can only guess that you are criminals that he has arested or you have a personal vendetta. He is the son of a PBSO deputy that was killed on duty in the 60’s
and this how you thank them. Also the reporter has written this story months after the alleged incident. Why? And where did she get this information which has been distorted.
She has trashed this officer’s good name. What about innocent until proven guilty.
February 4th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Well it shouldn’t be long now and we’ll have the dna…
So we shall see …
February 4th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I agree that losing a pet is devastating. We have all been through this at one time in our lifes. This tragic story has a side that no one is considering…that the Sheltra’s raise these beautiful animals to hunt and people come to their very high class ranch in Texas and pay to hunt. Also what you don’t know is that Grace didn’t feel much pain when much of her adult life was spent shooting these beautiful creatures of God, as did her husband and two beloved sons. The Palm Beach Post has followed their race car driver son (cute he is !) along his career, but they may want to include that the perfect family is not perfect, their other son recently arrested for battery, and Daddy got caught taking illegal Lobster in the Keys. This diffently looks like they just may be getting back what they feel is justice. Think about that for awhile.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
What happened to innocent before being proving guilty? Apparently some people can’t read. Lt Fogleman is not being accused for shooting this deer. His son is. This is all speculation and hearsay. No one has been charged and an on going investigation is going on. This Lieutenant has devoted his life to Martin county and the people who live there. The people who throw stones should look in the mirror. Everyone wants to jump on the band wagon, when they have no idea what they are talking about. Jim Fogleman had already planed on retiring. Know the facts people! Don’t just print part of the story to make the front page, print it all. I just can’t believe how people like to judge others. It must be nice to be so perfect!!!
February 4th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
That deer would look great hanging on the wall!!
February 4th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I agree with know the facts! JUDGE AND BE JUDGED! It is so sad to see such hate, We have much more to worry about right now than this, just seems very petty. Wait for the guilty verdic before you put him on the cross.
January 9th, 2010 at 4:00 am
I love your site. I look forward to reading more of your posts. Thank you!