LISBON - The Columbiana County Sheriff's Office, Columbiana County Humane Society, Animal Charity of Ohio, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife were canvassing the Pure Gold Horse Stable and Equestrian Center property Wednesday afternoon, just days after the remains of four dead horses were discovered there.

Sheriff Brian McLaughlin says the last of living animals on the property were picked up, as the investigation into the remains continues. He also tells 21 News that remains will have to be combed through by forensics, which will take some time. 

Investigators found bones elsewhere on the property, but its unclear if this is tied to the horse remains discovered Sunday, or additional remains.

Christian Milhoan, who first discovered those remains, recalled those events in a 1-on-1 interview with 21 Weekend News Anchor Corey McCrae.

"I opened the door of the round pen, and upon entering, the smell is what hit me first," said Milhoan, a horse farrier, helping his friend Taylor Cobb, who was about to sign a lease to the property along Route 45 in Salem Township. While preparing for an open house, scheduled for the following Sunday, Milhoan made his way down to the round pen, on the same property.

"There was three stalls built in there. I looked over the stall, the first wall and saw the first; that would be the most, fully-decomposed horse laying there, and then I checked the other two, and there were two more horses there, and upon further investigation a fourth one was found, kind of shoved in a corner with dirt piled on it, like somebody had tried to bury it," Milhoan recalled.

According to a sheriff's report, deputies say all four skeletons appeared to have winter coats on, suggesting that the horses may have been dead since last winter. Shannon Gates with the Columbiana County Humane Society is working with veterinarians to establish a definitive timeline for the deaths.

Deputies say the wooden pens the horses were staying in appear to have been chewed on, and buckets inside the pen only had remnants of straw in them. 

"Those boards were eaten clean through so it's the scene in my mind and my opinions are that those horses were trying to eat the wood to survive," Milhoan added.

Milhoan says his friend, who he was helping prepare for the open house Sunday, didn't have access to pen, and that it was locked, with the windows boarded up.

"Glad it was discovered because had she not decided to lease this property, would it have ever come to light? Would anybody have known about this and would this path of neglect and abuse have continued?" Milhoan questioned.

The property owner, Heather Birkmire, has claimed she was unaware of any dead horses on the property. However, the sheriff's report states that Birkmire did have previous complaints on file from stable employees for allegedly failing to care for the horses.

According to the report, deputies met with Birkmire on Monday, but she appeared to be very nervous. Deputies say Birkmire gave them consent to search the stables, but told them she needed to get keys from a property down the road to enter the room with the horses' remains.

After a while, Birkmire allegedly told deputies she couldn't find the keys, but offered to show them the property and the horses that were still alive. Birkmire further told deputies that her horses are regularly treated by Lisbon area vets.

The report alleges that Birkmire told deputies that the person leasing the property had been taking care of the horses for about two months, but did not allow her access to the building where the horse remains were found.

Deputies say they were eventually able to access the area where the horse remains were found. Birkmire allegedly told deputies she believed the horses were poisoned by a former employee, possibly over a dispute about someone else buying the property.

Deputies say Birkmire did not articulate any specific instance, threat or direct reason as to why this employee would want to get back at her.

The Columbiana County Prosecutor’s Office publicly stated it has offered its resources to the Columbiana County Humane Society and the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, which are currently the lead investigative agencies.

“At this point, the status is ‘under investigation,’” the office, led by Prosecutor Abruzzino, posted on social media. The post acknowledged the serious nature of the alleged crimes.

The office urged anyone with information about the matter to contact the Humane Society or the sheriff’s office detective bureau.

The Columbiana County Humane Society released a statement addressing the public concern surrounding the deaths. The organization said it is actively supporting the sheriff’s department and the prosecutor’s office.

Nobody has been charged, but the Sheriff's Office is looking into felony animal cruelty charges.

“CCHS is unable to release any specific information regarding the investigation,” the statement read, explaining that sharing details prematurely could compromise the integrity of the process.

CCHS stated its commitment to a thorough investigation and asked for the public’s patience as the inquiry continues.

The sheriff’s office has declined to comment further due to the nature of the open investigation.

Officials have advised the public to rely only on official communications from the prosecutor’s office, the sheriff’s department, or the humane society for verified updates.