A Missouri woman, Tonia Haddix, confessed to misleading a U.S. District Court regarding the death of a chimpanzee named "Tonka." Haddix admitted to two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice, acknowledging that her false claims affected the proceedings of an ongoing civil suit.
The suit, initiated by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in 2016, raised concerns about the care of primates, including Tonka, at a Festus, Missouri facility. The District Court had previously ordered Haddix to comply with specified conditions for Tonka, which she failed to execute, resulting in multiple civil contempt motions by PETA.
On March 26, 2021, the court imposed a temporary restraining order to prevent Haddix from transferring Tonka and to ensure proper care for him. However, in a subsequent court hearing on July 14, 2021, Haddix falsely stated that Tonka had died, without providing any evidence. The court's ruling required representatives of PETA and the Center for Great Apes, along with Deputy U.S. Marshals, to carry out the transfer of Tonka and six other chimpanzees. On July 28, 2021, only the six chimpanzees were transferred, with no details about Tonka’s whereabouts.
On August 2, 2021, PETA again moved for civil contempt against Haddix for failing to transfer Tonka. On August 16, 2021, Haddix declared under oath that Tonka died on May 30, 2021, and claimed to have retained his cremated remains, a statement she knew was false as Tonka was alive. She further attempted to dismiss PETA's motion on December 27, 2021, reiterating her false claims.
During a court hearing on January 5, 2022, Haddix reiterated her false narrative under oath about Tonka's death. Based on her testimony, PETA's motion for civil contempt was denied. However, new evidence emerged on June 2, 2022, proving Tonka was alive. A temporary restraining order was issued, with Tonka's transfer to a designated facility on June 8, 2022, facilitated by PETA, Save the Chimps Foundation representatives, and Deputy U.S. Marshals.
Amid repeated warnings from the court, Haddix continued to defy orders and lied under oath, noted U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. "Haddix swore to tell the truth and blatantly lied," added Special Agent Ashley Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division.
Haddix will be sentenced on July 16. Each perjury charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while the obstruction charge can result in up to 10 years in prison and a similar fine. The FBI conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith prosecuting the case.
