Tonia Haddix Sentenced to Prison for Perjury and Obstruction of Justice
Tonia Haddix, the central figure in HBO’s 2024 docuseries “Chimp Crazy,” has been handed a 46-month prison sentence after being found guilty of two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, as reported by local St. Louis outlet Fox 2. The case revolved around the alleged death of her famous pet chimpanzee, Tonka.
The HBO series delves into Haddix’s ownership of a chimpanzee compound in Festus, Missouri, where she rented out the primates for various events and entertainment purposes. Following an incident in 2020 where one of her chimps escaped, questions arose regarding her treatment of the animals. This led to intervention from animal rights group PETA, who secured a court order to relocate the chimps to a more suitable sanctuary.
Haddix initially resisted the court order, but when federal officials arrived to retrieve the animals, she claimed that Tonka had passed away prior to their visit. Tonka, a veteran of Hollywood films like “George of the Jungle” and “Buddy,” was later found alive in Haddix’s basement at a new residence in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. This discovery resulted in her arrest, and she eventually pleaded guilty to perjury and obstruction of justice charges. Tonka was subsequently moved to Save The Chimps Sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida.
While on bail in July, another unregistered chimp was discovered in Haddix’s basement, leading to a violation of her bond conditions. The legal proceedings regarding this find are currently under appeal.
PETA Foundation General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement, Brittany Peet, expressed relief at Haddix’s incarceration, emphasizing the need for support for the Captive Primate Safety Act to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“Chimp Crazy,” helmed by “Tiger King” creator Eric Goode, offers a detailed look at Haddix’s association with Tonka and her clashes with PETA leading up to her arrest. The documentary features crucial footage of Haddix’s deception and Goode’s involvement in exposing the truth. The series premiered on HBO in 2024 and is currently accessible for streaming on HBO Max.
