2 weeks Ago By Cheyenne Roundtree
The star of the HBO docuseries Chimp Crazy pleaded guilty to perjury and obstruction of justice after she tearfully testified under oath that her beloved pet chimpanzee Tonka had died — when in reality, the primate was sitting in her basement. Tonia Haddix could face up to 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines for the three felony counts. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 16 and firecracker Haddix was warned by U.
S. District Judge Stephen Clark against making any more colorful remarks about the case in the interim. “If between now and sentencing you make statements to suggest that you do not accept responsibility, I will take that into account,” Clark said at Monday’s court hearing, according to St.
Louis Public Radio . “I encourage you to confer with counsel before making any statements.” Rolling Stone has reached out to Haddix for comment, but her attorney Justin Gelfand told St.
Louis Public Radio that she “looks forward to putting this behind her.” Haddix became a minor celebrity last year following the release of the four-episode docuseries . She had been locked in a years-long, contentious feud with PETA after she took over the controversial Missouri Primate Foundation in 2018.
In June 2021, a judge ordered Haddix to turn over seven chimpanzees in her care to a Florida animal sanctuary after she failed to make improvements to the roach-infested, feces-covered facility. However when PETA and officials arrived to transport the animals to the sanctuary, Haddix’s favorite chimp Tonka — who starred in the movies George of the Jungle and Buddy — was nowhere to be found. Instead, Haddix claimed Tonka suddenly died after experiencing heart failure, submitting a sworn statement that claimed she cremated his remains.
Although PETA was convinced Haddix was lying, they were unable to prove that Tonka was alive. They teamed up with Tonka’s former co-star Alan Cumming to offer $20,000 in reward money to anyone who could help find Tonka’s whereabouts. Editor’s picks The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time But Tonka was discovered alive in June 2022 after PETA received information that Haddix had been keeping Tonka locked up in a cage in her basement.
The tip came from a documentary crew who had been filming with Haddix for what she claimed to believe was a film supporting the private ownership of exotic animals. In reality, Tiger King ’s Eric Goode was behind the project. For nearly a year, the crew had captured incriminating footage of Haddix, including a stunning scene where Haddix breaks down in tears during a Zoom court hearing about Tonka’s supposed death only for her to slam the laptop shut and celebrate her short-lived court victory with Tonka in her basement.
After the docuseries aired, PETA used the footage and other evidence to push the court to pursue criminal charges against Haddix. In a statement provided to Rolling Stone, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said the organization hopes Haddix serves prison time “so she can get a taste of the suffering she condemned Tonka and other animals to.” Trending Stories ‘Lives Are in Danger’ After a Trump Admin Spreadsheet Leak, Sources Say I'm 73.
Heavy Metal Just Changed My Life Something Important Is Missing in the Signal Scandal 'The White Lotus' Episode 7: Sleeping With the Frenemy “When PETA and U.S. Marshals found where Haddix had hidden Tonka, he was alone, locked in a tiny cage in Haddix’s dark basement, isolated, and denied everything necessary for a healthy, happy life,” Newkirk said.
“U.S. Marshals and PETA freed him and now Tonka spends his days at a beautiful sanctuary roaming a three-acre island, climbing, basking in the Florida sun, and, most importantly, spending time with other chimpanzees — and Haddix must now face consequences for her selfish, cruel actions.
” Haddix previously told Rolling Stone that her love for Tonka clouded some of her decisions. If she could do it all over again, Haddix said she would still fight for Tonka, but would do some things differently. “I wouldn’t get involved with a film crew,” she said.
“They’re three-quarters of my problem. Secondly, I would not have lied to a federal court judge. I just would have handled it all in a better way.
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