In Douglas County, Oregon, a devastating incident at a fish hatchery resulted in the death of nearly 18,000 young Chinook salmon due to a man’s deliberate act of pouring bleach into their tank. The accused, 20-year-old Joshua Heckathorn from Gardiner, allegedly attempted to steal the fish at a facility in Reedsport on a recent Monday. A patrol deputy reported spotting Heckathorn near Highway 101 earlier in the day and later observed him at the hatchery behind a locked gate. Authorities claim he broke into the hatchery, accessed the storage area, and was about to take the fish when he resorted to using bleach.
Deborah Yates, president of
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