Anonymous donors step in after Liberty County family's horse killed; reward up to $20K

LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas – An anonymous couple has offered to donate $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person or people who shot and killed a 5-year-old girl's palomino horse in Liberty with a bow and arrow.

Crimestoppers has offered $5,000 as a reward, and the family is offering $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. And since the show has aired, another person donated $4,000 (contingent on arrest and conviction) to add to the reward, making it $20,000.

WATCH: Crossbow used to shoot, kill horse

Arian Brock, 5, has mourned the deaths of two horse in less than two months.

READ: Second horse shot at family's Liberty County ranch

On Monday, her palomino quarter horse named Sunshine was found dead after being shot in the head. Her mother, Camie Brock, received a phone call Monday from her son, saying Sunshine was shot and bleeding.

Brock said that, when she arrived home, her daughter’s horse was still warm.

A vet confirmed to the family that Sunshine had been shot and killed with a bow and arrow.

Arian named the horse Sunshine in January after it was delivered from a rescue group. It was donated to her after her first horse, Sonny, was also shot and killed in December.

“She’s confused, but yet she just wants someone to ... get in trouble, is her words,” Brock said.

Arian was so happy when she received her new horse. Now, she has to mourn the death of another loved one. Her family said it does not plan on getting another horse.

Brock said she is very angry and has hired a private investigator to look into the death.

"There's a lot of avenues we need to take. Who would have any vendetta against Camie, Dale and their family?" said Carla Edwards, an investigator and owner of Unlimited Investigation in Liberty.

The Brock family had to take the horse's head in for X-rays to help with the investigation.

"The weapon that was used to kill the horse was determined to be a crossbow," Edwards said.

The Brock family is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Camie Brock’s 5-year-old daughter is having to deal with the death of her beloved palomino horse, Sunshine. Sunshine was shot in the head Monday. Today her mother hopes people will come forward with information and get this person behind bars. New developments on this case tonight on Ch 2

Posted by KPRC2 Rose-Ann Aragon on Tuesday, February 20, 2018

A Houston-area couple has anonymously donated a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

The couple, who said the story moved them to take action to help catch the suspect who was harming animals, called the killing "sick and disturbing."

"There are good people out there, and I'm very gracious that someone would do something that sweet for my family and for my animals and for my daughter's horse. I want this to be brought to justice," Brock said.

A woman had also offered to raise money to add to the reward.

Meanwhile, investigators with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office has leads but need more information.

"How long until this is not enough and this person may start harming people?" said Capt. Ken DeFoor. He said killing animals may be a gateway to more serious crimes.

Investigators believe it may potentially be connected to a similar case, which happened about 6 miles from the Brock's ranch.

In November, someone shot and killed a miniature horse named Chicken Nugget. Chicken Nugget was 5-year-old Rylee Brett's best friend. She was devastated. The shooter is still on the run.

Later that month, Rylee was united with Chicken Nugget's sister, a mini horse she named Chicken Wing. Chicken Wing and Rylee are happy and well.

Arian's mother said the two girls are classmates and friends. Rylee's mother, Kylee, and Arian's mother, Camie have reached out to each other sharing comfort and information.

"I just feel horrible for them. I can relate," said Brett. "It's sick. It's evil. It's hate."

The two do not know if the cases are related, but said they are determined to find justice for the horses and their girls.

"[The girls] know no evil. They know no hate," said Kylee. "For them to love a horse the way they do--it's an inseparable bond."

The Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help.

"Any little bit of information, any tiny thing means something. Just help," Brock said.

Brock said that person doesn't need to harm another defenseless animal.

“A sick person. A very sick person. Sick, twisted individual,” Brock said.

She said she doesn't plan to replace Sunshine. She’s even planning to remove her grandson’s horse from the ranch as a precaution.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-392-7867 and/or private investigator Carla Edwards at 936-336-7828.