Beloved Turkey Killed In Texas Suburb By Man Who Wanted To Eat The Bird

The much-loved town turkey in Argyle, Texas, tragically had its neck wrung last week.

A witness said she saw a man twisting the turkey's neck before throwing it into his car and driving away on December 9, the Cross Timbers Gazette reported.

Cole Lemmon, 27, is accused of killing Tom - also known as George - with the intention of eating the bird.

“By all accounts, they were going to eat the bird. That’s what all indicators show because he cleaned it, and we got some of the meat back," Texas Parks and Wildlife Capt. Cliff Swofford told the Denton Record-Chronicle.

Lemmon was charged with hunting without a valid license and hunting or possession of game animals taken on a public roadway. Lemmon wasn't arrested but will likely have to pay a fine and restitution.

Tom was an icon in Argyle. He didn't belong to anyone but everyone, and was known for stopping traffic along U.S. Highway 377 and harassing the customers at a nearby auto shop. There was even a Facebook page for Tom/George where residents shared photos and videos of the turkey chasing cyclists and pecking at their car wheels.

He was even "interviewed" by the local newspaper for Thanksgiving.

“He just walked around. It felt like he owned the place, directing traffic and stopping traffic on 377. The people of Argyle always put up with him because he was the unofficial mayor of Argyle. ... It was kind of fun and all of us, you know, grin and bear it," said Corey Elam, who also described Tom as "cantankerous."

The Argyle Police Department looked into releasing another turkey after Tom's death but that's illegally to do without permission from Texas Parks and Wildlife.

All that's left of Tom is his beard, which was donated to the city of Argyle.

Photo: Argyle Police Department