Case dismissed against woman accused of starving her horses

Tuesday, June 13th 2006, 10:01 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ A Payne County judge has dismissed an animal-cruelty charge against a Yale woman who was accused of failing to adequately feed and water seven horses, two of which died.

The felony case against Twilia Lee Ann Clawson, 35, was dismissed Friday by Associate District Judge Robert Murphy Jr. because a prosecution witness was unavailable, court records show.

Clawson told the Payne County Sheriff's Office in June 2004 that she had left the seven horses at Patrick Dykes' residence near Yale but that he would not let her have them when she returned four days later, an affidavit said.

Dykes said Clawson did not have permission to dump the horses - which he said he found penned in his yard - and that Clawson left no food and water for them, according to an affidavit.

A nursing mare had to be euthanized, and her colt died soon after, authorities said.