DeLand man sent to prison for killing horse injuring rider

Historic City News was informed by Seventh Judicial Circuit State Attorney R. J. Larizza that earlier today, a 22-year-old DeLand man was sentenced to 5 years in state prison for aggravated battery with a motor vehicle, killing of a horse, and leaving the scene of a crash with injury.

According to official court records Christopher T. Todd was driving a 2015 Dodge Ram 1500 in a reckless manner near where friends were riding their horses.

While they were stopped at a watering area, one of the riders approached Todd’s vehicle and got into a confrontation about how his driving.

Todd revved his engine, turning up dirt, and drove his truck at the group. Todd’s truck struck and killed Ellie Mae, a black Tennessee Walking Horse, and injured her rider, Chloe Sloan.

Sloan, who was thrown from the horse, took cover in the woods nearby.

Deputies stopped Todd’s truck, identified by tag number, approximately 30 miles from the scene of the crime. The truck had horse hair embedded in the grill and damage consistent with hitting Ellie Mae.

Upon his release from prison, Todd will be placed on 5-years’ probation.