Livestock theft investigator Troy McKinney, left, talks with bookkeeper Al Croix of the Supreme Farms ranch, which has had 122 prime Angus cattle stolen over the last year. The case in Denton, Texas, is one of several McKinney is looking into. (Tom Pennington / For The Times)
Croix, the Supreme Farm bookkeeper, told McKinney about a possible culprit. McKinney searched state auction records, and found that cattle with the Supreme Farm brand had been sold by the suspect. The man confessed. (Tom Pennington / For The Times)
Troy McKinney, left, works with Denton County Sheriff’s investigator Larry Kish. Kish is a self-proclaimed city boy: I know a cow moos and has four legs and thats about it, he said. I depend on people like Troy. (Tom Pennington / For The Times)
McKinney, a Texas Ranger, carries a Colt .45 pistol on one hip. (On the other hip? His iPhone.) (Tom Pennington / For The Times)
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McKinney reports directly to the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assn. He’s one of 29 livestock theft investigators around the state. (Tom Pennington / For The Times)
Angus cattle at Supreme Farms. More than 6,400 head of cattle were stolen in Texas in 2008, a nearly threefold increase from the year before. (Tom Pennington / For The Times)
Kent Terrell tags cattle at the Decatur Livestock Market, where around 1,600 head are sold each Monday. From McKinneys perspective, that’s a lot of potential for mischief. (Tom Pennington / For The Times)
Cattle at the Decatur market are tagged with a sale number, which matches them to the seller and buyer. Auction records often help McKinney track down stolen livestock. (Tom Pennington / For The Times)
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Cattle are sorted before being auctioned at the Decatur market. (Tom Pennington / For The Times)
Cattle are tagged at the Decatur market. (Tom Pennington / For The Times)
Bidders watch the auction at the Decatur market. Troy McKinney is there too, watching for stolen cattle. (Tom Pennington / For The Times)
