Tonia Haddix, a Missouri woman already convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice for hiding a chimpanzee and lying to federal authorities, is now back behind bars after investigators say they discovered yet another chimp caged in her basement.
Haddix appeared in federal court this week in shackles, arrested over the weekend at a hospital where she claimed she had been experiencing a medical “episode.” Her detention comes just weeks before her scheduled Aug. 7 sentencing in a long-running legal saga that has drawn national attention and was the subject of the HBO Max docuseries Chimp Crazy.
Federal prosecutors say Haddix violated the conditions of her release and misled the court again by concealing the existence of a live female chimpanzee at her Sunrise Beach, Missouri, home. The discovery was made during a July 9 search of her property. The chimp was allegedly unregistered, in direct violation of both federal law and Haddix’s bond terms.
Haddix previously plead guilty in March to charges stemming from her attempts to hide a chimp named Tonka. She falsely claimed that the chimp died so she could prevent his transfer to an accredited sanctuary. Tonka was later found alive, creating a firestorm of problem for Haddix.
The latest arrest could significantly impact Haddix’s sentencing. Prosecutors have indicated they will seek a bond revocation, and Haddix will remain jailed until a hearing set for later this week.
In a recent court filing, Haddix’s attorneys asked for leniency, requesting a reduced sentence of one year and one day—far below the federal guideline of 51 to 63 months. Her attorneys argued that Haddix wasn’t being malicious, but that she was trying to hold onto the animals due to an intense emotional bond.
The motion cited Haddix’s history of trauma, including abuse and neglect throughout her life. Her attorneys claim that her connection with chimpanzees is a coping mechanism and source of emotional security. “In the face of these harsh realities threaded throughout her life,” the filing reads, “Haddix came to form secure attachments with animals.”
For years, Haddix was involved with the now-defunct Missouri Primate Foundation, a facility in Festus that bred chimpanzees for films and photoshoots. Despite multiple court orders, she resisted efforts to rehome the animals, at one point falsely claiming Tonka had died to avoid compliance.
The court will make its final decision on her sentence next month.
