Colts safety’s father identified as man who allegedly killed bald eagle with rifle

Roughly two weeks after a person surrendered to police for allegedly killing a bald eagle, the identification of the suspect has been launched.

The alleged poacher is 50-year-old Rodney Thomas, whose son, Rodney Thomas II, is a security for the Indianapolis Colts.

The alleged capturing occurred Could 12 exterior Pittsburgh when residents discovered one among two native mature bald eagles useless in a discipline.

“We’re devastated that this is able to occur, and we don’t perceive why any person would do that,” resident Linda Carnevali advised Fox Information Digital earlier this month.

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Indianapolis Colt Rodney Thomas II warms up earlier than a sport in opposition to the Tennessee Titans Oct. 2, 2022, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Jenna Watson/IndyStar/USA Immediately Community)

The eagle pair had been within the space almost twenty years, she mentioned, virtually all the time collectively besides once they had been defending their clutches or newly hatched eaglets. Two eaglets not too long ago hatched within the nest, residents mentioned.

Inside days of the poaching, the Pennsylvania Sport Fee mentioned in a press release suggestions had led investigators to the suspect, who “admitted to all aspects of the crime.”

“We consider that the suspect will face any applicable state and/or federal fees in the end upon the conclusion of the continuing investigations,” Mount Nice Township Police Chief Matthew Tharp mentioned.

Two mature bald eagles of their nest in Mount Nice Township, Pa. One in every of them was allegedly killed by a poacher in Could, shortly after two eaglets hatched.  (Shannon Kuzio)

Bald eagles are thought-about one of many nation’s best wildlife preservation success tales, and populations have rebounded throughout the U.S. after they had been first positioned on the endangered species record.

After they had been upgraded from endangered to protected, the state penalty for killing an eagle in Pennsylvania was downgraded to a abstract violation high-quality of as much as $200.

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The Pennsylvania state Senate not too long ago handed a invoice to boost the high-quality to $2,000 in an effort to discourage poaching.

The federal penalty for poaching a bald eagle can embrace a high-quality of as much as $100,000 and as much as one yr in jail for a primary offense, in line with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Indianapolis Colts security Rodney Thomas II intercepts a go in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings throughout the fourth quarter at U.S. Financial institution Stadium.  (Matt Krohn/USA Immediately Sports activities)

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Thomas was a seventh-round select of Yale final yr to Indianapolis. He appeared in all 17 video games final yr, taking part in 63% of defensive snaps and intercepting 4 passes.

Fox Information’ Michael Ruiz and Jordan Early contributed to this report.