A routine flight in 2023 led to the downfall of two California poachers after they unknowingly incriminated themselves by boasting about their illegal hunting trophies to undercover wildlife officers.
Byron Lee Fitzpatrick, 24, and Shannon Lee Price, 28, were discussing their collection of illegal animal remains during a flight to California in November 2023, openly sharing details about their latest acquisition — a green sea turtle skull, which is illegal to possess under federal law. They also spoke about illegally hunting a mountain lion and described a family member’s extensive trophy room filled with protected species, including mountain lions, wolves and a wolverine.
The passengers seated in front of them were undercover officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Listening closely, the officers let the conversation unfold, even identifying themselves at one point. Fitzpatrick and Price, undeterred, continued talking and even showed footage of their illegal taxidermy collection.
After landing, the officers asked to see the sea turtle skull. The couple, taking precautions to avoid TSA agents, hesitated before finally revealing the item. This was all the evidence officers needed to obtain search warrants for the couple’s home in Chico, California, and the home of 64-year-old Harry Vern Fitzpatrick in Napa County.
During the raid on the couple’s home, officers found them in the process of butchering a deer that had been illegally taken that same day. Multiple prohibited animal parts were seized, including a barn owl, a ringtail cat and mountain lion claws. At the elder Fitzpatrick’s residence, officials confiscated a wolverine mount and two full-body mountain lion mounts.
In federal court, Fitzpatrick and Price were each fined $1,000 in April 2024 for violating wildlife laws. In a separate state case, Fitzpatrick was fined $1,865 and banned from hunting for one year, while Price received a $1,015 fine and the same restriction. The senior Fitzpatrick was fined $605 and placed on six months of hunting probation.
California wildlife officials emphasized that illegal poaching and wildlife trafficking are serious offenses that contribute to broader criminal activities worldwide.
