Actor from 'Chimp Crazy' film found guilty of fabricating truth regarding the demise of the film's simian star
Missouri Woman Tonia Haddix Sentenced for Chimp Misconduct
Tonia Haddix, a Missouri woman who ran a primate facility and was featured in the HBO documentary series "Chimp Crazy," has been sentenced to nearly four years (46 months) in federal prison for lying about the death of Tonka, a celebrity chimpanzee she was accused of mistreating and illegally harboring in her basement.
Haddix, who pleaded guilty to perjury and obstruction of justice, falsely claimed that Tonka had died and submitted a sworn statement, lying under oath to avoid relinquishing the chimp to a Florida sanctuary as required by a 2020 consent decree.
The primate facility Haddix ran, formerly known as the Missouri Primate Foundation, had been shut down after animal rights complaints. PETA had sued Haddix and the foundation, alleging the chimps were kept in cramped, barren cages. In 2020, Haddix agreed to relinquish seven chimpanzees from the foundation, with plans to transfer four chimps to a Florida sanctuary and allow her to keep three others, including Tonka, at a new facility she was to build. However, when the time came to transfer Tonka, Haddix lied about his death to prevent the move.
Tonka, who appeared in films like "George of the Jungle" and "Buddy," was later found alive in a cage in Haddix’s basement. After the revelation, Tonka was moved to a different sanctuary in Florida for proper care.
Animal welfare advocates and PETA expressed relief at the sentence and renewed calls for stricter laws to protect primates from exploitation and mistreatment. PETA praised the sentence, stating that Haddix can no longer hurt another chimpanzee.
Haddix's personal background includes a troubled childhood and difficult marriages, which her lawyer cited to seek leniency. However, the court deemed her sentence appropriate given the egregious nature of her actions concerning vulnerable animals.
In addition to the prison sentence, Haddix has been ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release after her prison term ends. Haddix was also arrested last month for violating court orders by keeping another chimp locked up in her home's basement. Authorities removed the remaining chimps, except for Tonka, from Haddix's facility in 2021 because she was not complying with the agreement.
PETA removed Tonka from a cage in the basement of Haddix's home in Sunrise Beach, Missouri, in 2022. Haddix's lawyer, Justin Gelfand, has asked for mercy in court filings, stating that she came to form secure attachments with animals due to the harsh realities she faced throughout her life. However, prosecutors believe Haddix has shown no remorse for her criminal conduct.
[1] Associated Press. (2023, March 10). Missouri woman sentenced for lying about death of celebrity chimp. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://apnews.com/article/chimpanzee-tonia-haddix-missouri-prison-sentence-31d512c705e929b81906362009e25579
[2] KSDK. (2023, March 10). Missouri woman sentenced to prison for lying about chimp's death. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://www.ksdk.com/news/local/missouri-woman-sentenced-to-prison-for-lying-about-chimps-death/
[3] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (2023, March 10). Missouri woman sentenced for lying about chimp's death. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://www.stltoday.com/news/crime/missouri-woman-sentenced-for-lying-about-chimps-death/article_79313210-c825-11ed-a57a-d336c324c72c.html
[4] PETA. (2023, March 10). Missouri woman sentenced for lying about chimp's death. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/missouri-woman-sentenced-for-lying-about-chimps-death/
[5] Courthouse News Service. (2023, March 10). Missouri Woman Sentenced To Prison For Lying About Chimp's Death. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://www.courthousenews.com/missouri-woman-sentenced-to-prison-for-lying-about-chimps-death/
[1] Entertainment news outlets report Tonia Haddix, a celebrity chimpanzee owner, being sentenced to nearly four years (46 months) in prison for perjury and obstruction of justice related to while illegally harboring the chimpanzee Tonka, who was featured in films like "George of the Jungle" and "Buddy."
[2] General-news sources discuss the sentencing of Tonia Haddix, a Missouri woman who was accused of mistreating and illegally housing a celebrity chimpanzee in her basement, as her sentence comes after pleading guilty to these charges and after the closure of her primate facility due to animal rights complaints. Crime-and-justice outlets delve into the egregious nature of Haddix's actions concerning vulnerable animals, leading to her prison sentence and supervised release, as well as continued violations of court orders regarding primates.
