Wednesday, Dec. 07, 2011
Animal Terror in Ohio
Sixty-two-year-old exotic-animal collector Terry Thompson set his animals loose at his 73-acre (30 hectare) Muskingum County Animal Farm in Zanesville, Ohio, on Oct. 18. State deputies were forced to take drastic action, and when the dust settled, there were 49 deaths, including those of baboons, black bears, lions and rare Bengal tigers. Thompson turned a gun on himself, taking his own life. Authorities defended their decision to shoot and kill the animals, saying it was for the protection of the public. It's still not known why Thompson released the animals, though there has been speculation that he was in over his head and having difficulties caring for them.