Search continues for answers after family's beloved Texas Longhorn goes missing

Pictured is a Texas Longhorn named Tillie in an undated photo. The steer was reported missing in July 2023.
(Iva Marie)

UpNorthLive
by Marc Schollett
Sun, August 6th 2023, 11:20 AM CDT

*Editor's note: This story was originally produced for broadcast on Friday, August 4. The race in question occurred on Saturday.*

MANISTEE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- Often there are lots of stickers on racecars, usually sponsors.

But this weekend at the Northern Michigan Dragway, many of the cars will have stickers on them calling for justice for a beloved and unique member of a northern Michigan family.

"I'm alright, I'm hanging in there. Hanging in there trying to hope, hoping we get somewhere," said Iva Marie.

The last month for Iva and her family has been hard.

It's been a month of dealing with the loss of their beloved Texas Longhorn, Tillie.

Tillie, who lived more like a dog, is suspected to have been shot and dragged away from its Manistee County home in the middle of the night.

"I want this to keep going. I don't want to let this just disintegrate. I want justice to be served to the right person who killed my cow," Iva said.

That night, they searched for Tille, finding only a pool of blood and drag marks.

Since that night, they haven't stopped looking.

"We've had a few leads, but that's kind of where we're at right now," Iva said.

And hoping to keep Tillie and her disappearance front and center and that's what brings us to this race.

"This weekend, AlumaClear is putting on Diesel Days here at the Northern Michigan Dragway. And I spoke with a AlumaClear and the owner of the dragstrip to be okayed to have every car that enters, or a diesel truck or whatever semi, to put 'Justice for Tillie' on their windows," Iva said.

She has had stickers made for the drivers to put on their cars before they fly down the track.

They are free, but donations are welcome.

"We just want to keep pushing forward and make sure that it doesn't just get swept under the rug and forgotten about," Iva said.

These may just be the latest sign that the community here stands with her.

"You know, it's felt really good having the community's support through this all. I've had people reach out to me messages calling me texting me, even saying things to me when they see me out in public and it's pretty cool seeing how the community has come together and talking to us and trying to help us out with anything and everything they can," Iva said.

The grandstands are empty today, the track quiet, but she already knows when they are full and the cars are flying, with each one that passes with a call for justice, a tug on her heart from Tillie.

"It's going to make me feel good. I'm probably going to cry. And it'll make the person or persons who did this feel even more guilty than they probably already do. And I hope that it pushes them to maybe come forward," Iva said. "I doubt it. But it's all we can try. Just keep pushing this and keep pushing the issue of get justice for my cow."

Drivers that put on the stickers also get a complimentary photo of their car in action.

Right now, there is a $3,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

That amount will probably grow after donations at the dragway this weekend.

If you have any information, you are encouraged to contact Manistee County Animal Control.