This was written by one of our freelance writers, Pat Raia. It seems rather appropriate that the image on the upper left-hand side of this page has a horse having an “encounter” with an alien, as you’re about to read…

Earlier this year a Colorado rancher called law enforcement authorities to report that he had discovered two of his horses dead and mutilated in their pasture. Months later, investigators still disagree about what killed the animals and why.

Lt. Lari Sevene, public information officer for the El Paso, Colo., Sheriff’s Department said that this summer, Rush, Colo., rancher Mike Schneider contacted authorities to report he had discovered that his yearling Paint filly and her pasturemate, a 4-year-old Rocky Mountain Horse, had been killed and mutilated sometime on Aug. 10.

“The owner said he believed the animals were killed by a laser from a military helicopter,” Sevene said