ANZA--A Riverside County man who was facing charges after a horse was found beaten to death and decapitated has been found dead on his ranch.

Jack Ziniuk, 64, was awaiting trial on felony charges of animal cruelty.

Ziniuk had told investigators the horse had been attacked by dogs and had to be put down. Prosecutors said he decapitated it with a chainsaw and then fed the head to his dogs.

The coroner did not list the cause of Ziniuk’s death. (INT)

Story Date: August 31, 2009