New York: Three teens arrested for killing, consuming village's prized swan

A mature female swan named Faye and her four young swans, also known as cygnets, were reported missing from the swan pond Monday, police in the village of Manlius told CNN.

On Tuesday, authorities received tips that two of the cygnets were at a discount store in a nearby town, where one of the suspects worked, Manlius Police Captain Tina Stanton was quoted as saying by CNN during a Wednesday news conference.

More information then led police to a second location where the remaining cygnets were found, Stanton said.

An 18-year-old and two other juveniles – aged 16 and 17 – are facing several charges, including grand larceny in the third degree, criminal mischief in the second degree, conspiracy in the fifth degree and criminal trespassing in the third degree, Manlius Police Sgt. Ken Hatter was quoted as saying by the news channel.

The three friends, who attend the same high school, hopped over the fence surrounding the swan pond in the middle of the night, Hatter said.

The teenagers were not aware of Faye’s significance to the community, Hatter added, and believed they hunted a “very large duck.” One of the suspects also said they were planning to raise the cygnets as pets, Hatter said.