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Family's Fish Killed By Teens

by Matt Van Hoven

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November 9, 2007

FLORIDA – A family in Palm Harbor, Florida says it will take months to clean and restock their Koi pond after local teens put dish soap in the water.

Carl White and his son Michael say this is the third time in recent years that someone has contaminated their pets' habitat.

After the second incident, the Whites had security cameras installed. Carl White says even though some of the fish are expensive, he's most upset about losing his pets.

Thanks to the cameras, authorities were able to identify the culprits as 17 year-old Neal Shikarpuri and Sean Smith.

The teens go to the same school as Michael White, but he says they don't know each other.

Carl White says he's lost about 130 Koi from the three incidents.

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crime, fish, koi, killed, teen, cruelty & abuse

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Amanda C.
Amanda C. (jackstruelove)
7 months ago
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What is wrong with some people? These kids should have to at the least pay a serious fine, it would be better if they had to spend some time in lockup.
 
Kelly P.
Kelly P. (Bordercolliesrcool)
8 months ago
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Thats mean
 
horsecreek
horsecreek
8 months ago
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we had a criminal neighbor ... very bad person...he dumped chlorine into his illegal well, which connected with our well...I came out one night to find our fish struggling to breathe...some died...but I was able to save most of them. Some people are just evil to the bone...I feel badly for the owner of these fish. We have fish that are 30 years old...kat
 
Kim W.
Kim W. (MsTopkdog)
8 months ago
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That is really pathetic when the youth of today have to resort to harmful pranks that in this case cost the lives of 130 fish, contaminated this guys pond and will cost who knows how much money to fix and restock his pond, just because they have nothing better to do.
I hope authorities have something really fitting for these two boys.
Kim
 
Linda
Linda (lcolson4)
8 months ago
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Sad story.
 
menglish
menglish
8 months ago
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I hope the people who committed this act of cruelty are punished.
 
Amy V.
Amy V. (AnimalLoverLise)
8 months ago
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I think it's awful what those teenagers did to the fish. Why on earth would they put dish soap in a fish pond?
 
SuzieGoose
SuzieGoose
8 months ago
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Was this some kind of pay back or what......This is horrid!
 
Sarah K.
Sarah K. (Sarah2themax)
8 months ago
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I thinks it's bad what they did to the fish, but get real they are only fish.
 
Kim W.
Kim W. (MsTopkdog)
8 months ago
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Just had to say that even though they may be "just fish" its still a life and nobody should take the "God" position and decide what lives and dies.
Kim
 
Amanda C.
Amanda C. (jackstruelove)
7 months ago
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What a stupid insensitive thing of you to say, fish have the same kind of nervous system as dogs and cats and they feel pain the same way, I am sure it hurts pretty bad to suffocate because you are inhaling a toxic substance.
 
Pam N.
Pam N. (truffle322)
8 months ago
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Some kids have to get a life or job or something!
 
janet m.
janet m. (janet817)
8 months ago
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Sad story
 
Janice K.
Janice K. (gabbygizmo)
8 months ago
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what is this world coming to
 
Robyn
Robyn (robyn101)
8 months ago
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Glad they had cameras, but there is just no reason to do something so bad as this.
 
Kearsten C.
Kearsten C. (galamazoo)
8 months ago
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thankfully they set up those cameras..thats messed up though, ppl just care less about fish and i understand they are needed for food but other than that it is just abusive to carelessly kill them especially when they are someones pet and so harmfully.
 
Michele C.
Michele C. (pattimichele)
8 months ago
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I have heard of childish pranks but this goes beyond harmless. These were 17 yr. old boys. No excuses, NONE. Fine, repay for damages, and "hundreds" of community service hours to an animal shelter. Supervised of course.
 
Norrie
Norrie (norrie43)
8 months ago
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I love to watch Koi if given the chance so I really I don't understand the meanness of this type of crime and 3 times, good grief! I hope they have to pay a fine and do community service and maybe their parents should work along side them.
 
Amy P.
Amy P. (Magpiemommy)
8 months ago
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how terrible. Why do people do these things?
 
Jeanne B.
Jeanne B. (JEANNEJEANNE)
8 months ago
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So what has happened to the trouble makers? Use that energy boys to promote a healthy lifestyle.
 
Marcia W.
Marcia W. (mews)
8 months ago
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I hope they received some kind of punishment - if nothing else they should be made to clean the pond and pay for resupplying fish.
 
cherrylee
cherrylee
8 months ago
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I'm glad the family had video cameras. The offenders need to be educated and punished.
 
Dawn B.
Dawn B. (unisofsouthcarolina)
8 months ago
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This is terrible! What did they get out of this?
 
danab7
danab7
8 months ago
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Ridiculous.
 
myfast2
myfast2
8 months ago
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<span>this comment has been removed from the system</span>
 
AnimalLover021
AnimalLover021
8 months ago
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This is sad. I don't understand how teens can do this, its not funny at all.
 
helpusinrapidcity
helpusinrapidcity
8 months ago
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we need to teach respect for all living things and how to act in the world...growing up in South Dakota we had the best neighborhood..we made forts and did fun things....we respected peoples yards,homes and pets....
 
charleshjr
charleshjr
8 months ago
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It all starts at home, parents need to teach the children from the beginning to be good citizens and not monsters
 
Janet
Janet (JanetsZoo)
9 months ago
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Ignorant teens. Never even gave any consideration to what these fish might mean to this family.
 
sandy h.
sandy h. (sandy5)
9 months ago
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I agree with it starts with the parents. I think fish are so calming to watch and it is sad they lost all these.
 
Jeff K.
Jeff K. (jkruser)
9 months ago
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I can't believe what some kids are capable of today! They need to be punished so they learn their lesson. It all starts with the parents.
 
Laura J.
Laura J. (LAJess)
9 months ago
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Just plain dumb. I'm sure the kids who did it didn't think it all the way through to the end. There should be some stiff consequences for them.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
9 months ago
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359doran
359doran
9 months ago
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Fools...
 
myfast2
myfast2
9 months ago
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<span>this comment has been removed from the system</span>
 
Rachel K.
Rachel K. (WCHSblondie)
9 months ago
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This is plan stupid. Dont people have better things to do than to do something like this! I mean honestly...
 
Daniel S.
Daniel S. (dannhl)
9 months ago
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That is horrible. Koi are such expensive and rare fish. It is a very costly and mean prank to be done. I hope they are punished.
 
Robin W.
Robin W. (robinrae)
9 months ago
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I would not want to live in his neighborhood. At least they caught the criminals this time.
 
doran359
doran359
9 months ago
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I think the kids need to wear the dead fish around their necks on strings. Maybe they will think twice about repeating this stupid stunt! It's not like the fish are invisible.
 
justin0718
justin0718
9 months ago
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Some people just have a mean streak. Sad story. Hope the kids get punished.
 
Shawn D.
Shawn D. (justshawn7)
9 months ago
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I really cant believe people can do these kinds of things. Its sad. Parents need to teach their kids respect for everything including animals
 
Christy M.
Christy M. (mallingc)
9 months ago
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How hard to lose that many koi. Glad the security cameras worked this past time.
 
Judy C.
Judy C. (judycraver57)
9 months ago
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I am sorry for the White family and the loss of their fish. When reading the comments, what I saw most was the word "teens". The focus was being put on the teens did this bad thing, etc. Yes, they did, but the focus should be more on the crime and punishment. Not all "teens" are bad. And not all teens do stupid things. Many adults abuse animals as well. I would like to see more about preventing these types of things and when caught no matter what your age that you get a just punishment. Perhaps these abusers could work some community service time with animals, and work something out with their parents to try to pay for some of this damage and learn a lesson. They do need to be punished in the same matter that an adult would be. No matter your age, if you do the crime, you do the time. I agree they were jerks. I wonder how one could get the message out that dish liquid does kill fish and that fish are just as much of a pet as a dog or cat. I agreed with the person that stated, they should not have been messing with someone else's property period. There is too much of this going on today by all ages.
 
Elizabeth C.
Elizabeth C. (ecraver)
9 months ago
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Ugh people like that make me sick! I hope they are prosecuted.
 
Kathy R.
Kathy R. (karauch)
9 months ago
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That's terrible!!!
 
Christy H.
Christy H. (cheaton)
9 months ago
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AHHH. What are kids thinking?!?!?!
 
Karina C.
Karina C. (koolbloo14)
9 months ago
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What jerks! Talk about not respecting other people's property. Koi can be really expensive too. The poor White family.
 
david a.
david a. (xdavidx)
9 months ago
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WTF ugh this makes me angry!
 
charleshjr
charleshjr
9 months ago
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People are stupid
 
Jessica T.
Jessica T. (jwaltri)
9 months ago
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These are not teens according to the state of Texas, and I fully feel that they should be given some form of jail time and community service, as well as a restitution fee for the family. This goes beyond teen pranks and vandalism, and for 17 year olds the punishment needs to be stiff to help these brats grow up.
 
Gretchen S.
Gretchen S. (gbste)
9 months ago
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I'm usually against minors being charged as adults, but it's a good idea in this case.
 
Melanie
Melanie (mfqz)
9 months ago
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It is too hard to even try and understand what causes people to be so absolutely cruel. The only punishment I guess seems to be monetary...and that seems like not enough.
 
Tammy K.
Tammy K. (kellerrjt)
9 months ago
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I believe those kids parents need to replace all the fish. Even if the kids didn't know the dish soap would kill the fish, they knew they were doing something they shouldn't be doing.
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