Source: MEATINGPLACE, 4/9/15

The suspect arrested in the deaths of 320,000 chickens being raised for Pilgrim’s Pride in South Carolina had himself been a grower for the company but lost his contract, police and Pilgrim’s confirmed.

The birds died earlier this year after someone bypassed security systems for chicken houses on 16 farms in Clarendon and Sumter counties and tampered with the climate controls, Clarendon County Sheriff Randy Garrett told Meatingplace. “What he did was either smother the birds or freeze them,” Garrett said.

Breaking into the chicken houses and reprogramming the climate systems required sophisticated knowledge of how such operations work, Garrett said. “We knew from the beginning it had to be someone on the inside,” he said.

James Lowery, 44, is charged with eight counts of burglary and four counts of malicious injury to personal property in Clarendon County. He is awaiting transfer to Sumter County, where he will face additional charges, Garrett said.

Pilgrim’s Pride spokesman Cameron Bruett confirmed to Meatingplace that Lowery was a contract grower for the company, but Pilgrim’s ended the relationship. 

Garrett said Lowery killed the birds on neighboring farms in retaliation against Pilgrim’s after his contract was not renewed.
“I can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that his contract with Pilgrim’s Pride was severed because of poor performance,” Garrett said.

The loss to Pilgrim’s alone totaled $1.7 million, he said.

Lowery could face federal charges of tampering with the food chain, Garrett said.
However, an attorney for Lowery told WSMV.com the authorities may have the wrong man in custody.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.