'chimp Crazy' Star Tonia Haddix Arrested As Authorities Find Another Secret Chimp In Her Home

Exotic animal agent and "Chimp Crazy" prima Tonia Haddix, who is presently embroiled successful a civilian suit pinch PETA, was arrested Saturday, a small much than a week aft authorities recovered a chimpanzee stashed successful nan basement of her Missouri home.

Her apprehension stems from an ongoing ineligible conflict involving PETA and different chimp named Tonka. A judge had ordered nan apprehension of Haddix and her hubby for contempt of tribunal aft they allegedly grounded to salary court-ordered fees to PETA, Rolling Stone reported. Haddix was released connected Sunday from nan Camden County jail.

Haddix was retired connected enslaved awaiting sentencing aft she pleaded blameworthy successful March to charges related to her lying to a national judge during a proceeding successful her case, NBC connection KSDK of St. Louis reported. She tearfully claimed that Tonka, a chimp champion known for his roles successful nan films "Buddy" and "George of nan Jungle," had died and was cremated, but it was later discovered that nan chimp was really live and being held successful her basement.

Tonka was yet removed from her attraction and placed successful a sanctuary.

Haddix was besides ordered by a judge to reimburse PETA astir $225,000 for fees and costs incurred done nan ineligible battle.

Her lawyer and head did not instantly respond to a petition for remark connected Thursday.

The unnamed female chimp was recovered successful a cage successful Haddix's basement aft authorities executed a hunt warrant connected July 9 astatine her Sunrise Beach home, according to an FBI affidavit revenge Wednesday. Authorities judge nan female chimp was being held successful nan aforesaid cage antecedently utilized for Tonka.

In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors based on that Haddix having different chimp successful her basement was "a clear violation" of nan bid entered successful her civilian lawsuit pinch PETA.

"While astatine nan clip of this penning nan Court has not yet made a uncovering comparative to Defendant’s violations of her conditions of release, it is nan position of nan United States that by possessing and concealing different chimpanzee successful nan basement of her residence, contempt this Court’s orders and warnings, Defendant has shown nary remorse for her criminal conduct, and has continued to situation and defy this Court’s authority, and she should look a important reward arsenic a result," nan memorandum, revenge Wednesday, states.

PETA said successful a statement Sunday that Haddix "can’t support dodging nan court’s orders to salary backmost nan money she owes."

"PETA trusts this jailhouse clip will beryllium conscionable a sensation of nan longer condemnation she’ll look adjacent month," nan animal authorities statement said.

Authorities had antecedently performed an unannounced sojourn to Haddix's location successful April and located a ample cage successful her basement. The cage was quiet astatine nan time, but authorities saw "fresh dung," flies, blankets, an quiet Gatorade vessel and “a half-eaten sucker” successful nan case, starring them to judge that a chimp had precocious been kept there.

The unannounced sojourn was a information of her release.

Haddix's ineligible conflict played retired connected HBO's "Chimp Crazy." The four-part bid was released past twelvemonth and followed her custody lawsuit pinch PETA complete respective chimps, including Tonka. The movie prima chimp had vanished successful 2021 nether her attraction aft a tribunal granted PETA support to transportation Tonka and different chimps to a sanctuary.

In a January 2022 virtual tribunal grounds featured successful nan four-part series, Haddix sobbed arsenic she told nan tribunal that Tonka had died and was cremated. In nan series, Haddix revealed to nan assemblage that Tonka was live and celebrated her tricking nan court.

PETA utilized nan HBO bid arsenic grounds successful its lawsuit against Haddix.