Chimp Attack Victim Sad Over Death of Friend (Chimp Owner)
May 27th, 2010 - 10:43 pm ICT by Angela Kaye Mason
May 27 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Charla Nash, who was left disfigured, and blind with no hands after the attack of ‘Travis’ a 200 pound chimpanzee, has received more disheartening news. The owner of the chimp, her friend, Sandra Herold, has died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm. She is said to be “in disbelief” at the tragic news of the death of her friend who was 72 years old.
Travis, the 200 pound primate, was adopted by Sandra when he was still a baby. She and her late husband raised the chimp as though he were their child, giving him a seat at the table, and he bathed and fed himself. Travis even worked, as he starred in ‘Old Navy’ and ‘Coca Cola’ commercials, and had became a celebrity in their town. But Charla admits she was often afraid of Travis.
Sandra called her friend, Charla over to her home one day and asked her to help get Travis back into the house. The chimp had became agitated and escaped earlier, and Sandra was unable to retrieve him alone. Travis attacked Charla, mauling her face, and leaving her clinging to life. In the attack which lasted 12 minutes, Travis ripped off most of Charla’s face, both hands, and left her near death. Sandra stabbed Travis, and he was eventually shot by Stamford Connecticut police officer, Frank Chiafari. He stated that he did not even recognize Charla as human when he first arrived, because she was so badly mangled. Officer Chiafari suffered Post Tramatic Stress Disorder following the incident and the 25 year veteran was unable to return to work.
The Department of Environmental Protection had received a letter prior to the incident, warning them that this could happen. The agency leaders called Travis living with Ms Herold an “accident waiting to happen.” The memo stated “The animal has reached adult maturity, is very large, and tremendously strong,” the memo read. “I am concerned that if he feels threatened or if someone enters his territory, he could seriously hurt someone.”
Despite the horror of the events, Charla says she had forgiven her friend, and was no longer angry. “I’ve gotten angry at times. But you can’t hold anger. It’s unhealthy. It goes through you. You’ve got to enjoy what you have.”
- Chimp attack victim Charla Nash is sad over Sandra Herold's death - May 27, 2010
- Owner of the chimp that mauled Charla Nash - Sandra Herold dies - May 26, 2010
- Chimp Attack Victim Sad For Friend - May 27, 2010
- Chimp Attack Victim Sad Over Friend's Death - May 27, 2010
- Chimp attack victim Charla Nash talks about her face transplant - Feb 29, 2012
- Did a drugged chimp attack Charla Nash? - Nov 19, 2009
- Chimp attack victim Charla Nash comes on Oprah show - Nov 13, 2009
- Charla Nash chimp attack victim lawsuit - Nov 16, 2009
- Chimp attack victim Charla Nash is Internet furor post Oprah show - Nov 18, 2009
- No charges planned against Sandra Herold in the chimp attack case - Dec 08, 2009
- Chimp Attack Victim Charla Nash Discharged From Hospital - May 07, 2010
- Celeb Stamford chimp attacks women gets butchered, shot - Feb 17, 2009
- Woman Mauled By Chimpanzee Reveals Picture Of The Trauma - Nov 12, 2009
- Chimp attack victim Charla Nash hopes for a face transplant - Nov 17, 2009
- Charla Nash's new face unveiled to the public - Nov 22, 2011
Tags: 72 years, agency leaders, aortic aneurysm, chimp, chimpanzee, coca cola, coca cola commercials, connecticut police officer, department of environmental protection, disbelief, friend sandra, herold, maturity, nash, old navy, primate, seat at the table, stamford connecticut, stress disorder, tragic news