Truckload of Frozen Chicken Abandoned After Ransom Denied

An employee of an Idaho trucking company abandoned a trailer containing thousands of pounds of frozen chicken at a western Montana truck stop after the company reportedly refused to pay a ransom for the poultry, Missoula County officials said. The 53-foot trailer, dripping the rancid juices of rotting chicken, was discovered Tuesday near the Flying J Truck Stop west of Missoula, the Missoulian reported. Truck stop manager Crystal Friede said the trailer had been there since at least Saturday. It contained 35,000 pounds of chicken worth $80,000, officials said.