Disturbing new details in Prineville animal abuse case

A Prineville man already behind bars on allegations of sexually abusing and killing a calf may be linked to up to two dozen more deer deaths, Crook County sheriff’s deputies said Thursday.

Undersheriff James Savage said 67-year-old Ronald Livermore could be responsible for the killings, found in the same area where two dead yearling-calves were discovered, on a ranch about an hour east of Prineville. No charges in the deer deaths have been filed.

“Evidence to attach Mr. Livermore to the (deer) case has been difficult,” Savage said.

It’s the nature of the carcasses and Livermore’s past convictions making him suspicious to deputies. Savage said Livermore’s apparent motive for killing sprees is sex.

“The activity at the animal is very unique,” Savage said. “We most likely suspect he was having sex with animals, and that’s very twisted and sick.”

In 2008, Livermore was convicted and sent to jail for about a year after he pleaded guilty to nine charges related to poaching deer. A sex abuse charge was originally filed in that case, but later dropped in a plea deal.

In the case of the calves, Savage said deputies, with help from Oregon State Police, collected plenty of evidence for all 32 charges filed against Livermore. Twenty of those charges are for illegally possessing homemade silencers for his guns.

Savage said they also “swabbed evidence at the crime scene.”

Help from the landowners was key to Livermore’s arrest, according to investigators.

Ranch owner Runinda McCormack told NewsChannel 21 her family put video cameras on a shop in November. She said the frustrated family had been finding dead deer and livestock on the property for three months.

McCormack added that in December, her cameras captured a man on the property, and she turned the video over to police.

From there, deputies obtained a warrant for Livermore’s home and raided it last week.

In addition to guns and silencers, Savage said Livermore had lighting on his pickup truck consistent for use of spotlighting. He said deputies did not find any carcasses at his home.

The deer deaths are still under investigation.

“On the wildlife side, it’s huge — you take out a couple does who could have twins or triplets — that’s a huge effect on the herd,” Savage said.

Last week, Livermore pleaded not guilty to all charges. He’s due back in court next week.

“Hopefully, we’ll put him away for a while,” Savage said.