• By Debi Metcalfe | Staff writer
• June 26, 2023

Deputies received a complaint by Debbie LaBaw on Friday, June 23, 2023, about a horse theft at a location on N. Farm Rd 93 in Springfield. Later that same day, McDonald County sheriff's deputies arrested two Anderson, Missouri, people for allegedly stealing a horse from a farm in Springfield. 

LaBaw alerted law enforcement of a tip received, and McDonald County Deputies followed up on the tip with LaBaw. They found the father, daughter, and stolen horse, arresting the suspects and returning the horse to his owner. 

Electronic records say that Patricia Jean Daley, 20, remained in McDonald County jail Friday with a bail of $2500.00. According to the arrest warrant, the McDonald County Sheriff's Office charged Daley with stealing $25,000 or more. Daley was a previous client of LaBaw. 

Her father, Patrick Daley, was also arrested and bonded out shortly after. An arrest record is not yet on the McDonald County records website.

After discovering her missing horse on June 23rd, the owner watched two people enter her property on her surveillance camera shortly after 1:00 am on June 23. 

People suggested she contact Stolen Horse International, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with over 25 years of experience working with theft victims, after posting her theft information on Facebook.

LaBaw filed a stolen horse report on the Stolen Horse Internation website, www.netposse.org. After Stolen Horse International received and reviewed the information, the site generated Dedrick's flyer and webpage.

Volunteers with Stolen Horse International issued the NetPosse Alert, the horse industry 'Amber' Alert, to social media platforms, network partners, and their NetPosse News e-newsletter. One post on the Stolen Horse International-NetPosse Missing and Stolen Equine Facebook page generated close to 6,000 shares within hours. 

A man saw the stolen horse alert on Facebook and recalled seeing a Friesian for-sale ad on Craig's list. 

You can look up the records at http://www.mcdonaldcountysheriff.com. Click on the Detention Center tab and search for Patricia or Patrick Daley.

For more information on Stolen Horse International and its programs, visit the website at www.netposse.org. Stolen Horse International is a Section 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Operating for over 25 years, the NetPosse Alert is known as the horse industry's "Amber Alert." Contributions to it are tax-deductible as charitable contributions and are greatly appreciated.