Women in HBO Documentary Series Center Chimpanzee is crazy She is still owed a nearly $240,000 fine after she faked the death of her chimpanzee Tonka, and PETA is urging a judge to consider bringing perjury charges against her.
Tanya Haddix could face up to five years in prison — and possibly more if she is charged and convicted of obstruction of justice — after Tonka was discovered living in her basement in June 2022 and a documentary crew caught the entire banana saga on camera.
“To be honest with you, I didn't know this was happening,” Haddix said. Rolling Stone Monday morning after learning of PETA's letter, “Am I shocked? No. Am I sad and wishing people would just leave me alone? Yes. But PETA won't stop. They're ruthless. I'm so exhausted.”
However, Haddix insists she was only looking out for the safety of her beloved chimp when she cried loudly before a Missouri county judge to recount Tonka's presumed death from congestive heart failure in May 2021.
The chimp allegedly died just days after a judge ordered seven chimpanzees removed from Haddix’s care and sent to a Florida sanctuary. Haddix cried during a virtual court hearing in January 2022 as she described finding the body of the former Hollywood star, who starred in “The Lion King.” owner Along with Alan Cumming.
Despite Haddix’s tears and the presentation of a finely ground brown powder that she claimed was Tonka’s ashes, PETA was not convinced by her version of events. The animal rights organization continued to demand more evidence from Haddix that Tonka was dead. However, a judge sided with Haddix. Until PETA had conclusive proof that Tonka was alive, there was nothing left to be done.
But Tonka was alive, sitting in a cage in the Haddix basement—just a few feet from where she had just sworn to tell the truth. Her daring lie was caught on camera by a documentary crew that had camped out at her home, filming Haddix’s battle against PETA.
“We won!” Haddix exclaimed as the session ended. “We just have to keep him hidden.”
In light of the tape-recorded confession, PETA sent a letter to the Assistant U.S. Attorney, urging the court to pursue criminal perjury charges against Haddix. The court reportedly initially declined to file charges against Haddix because it felt it “lacked sufficient evidence to prove that the chimpanzee removed from Haddix’s home on June 5, 2022 was in fact Tonka,” according to the letter obtained by The Washington Post. Los Angeles Times.
However, the courtroom scene, as well as many other scenes in Chimpanzee is crazyThe series provides “indisputable evidence” that the ape in question is Tonka. PETA also claims that the series shows the extremes Haddix would go to in order to fake Tonka's death, lie to the court, and hide him across state lines and in her own home.
“Now that Tanya Haddix’s blatant, unapologetic false testimony has been broadcast around the world, the United States must prosecute her, both to punish her and to deter future defendants from lying in federal court and expecting impunity,” PETA said in a statement. Rolling Stone“Just as PETA has never stopped fighting for Tonka, it will not stop pressuring authorities until Haddix and her co-conspirators are held accountable for their crimes.”
When reached by phone Monday morning, Haddix's husband, Jerry Aswegan, who may also face criminal charges after giving a statement to the court that he burned Tonka's body, said: Rolling Stone The couple are not too concerned about the potential looming charges.[PETA has] I've already tried it once, and [the court] “They rejected it. They said it wasn't a big enough issue to worry about,” he said.
Even if Haddix escapes criminal charges, she is still required to pay PETA at least $240,000 to cover the organization’s expenses and attorneys’ fees in bringing the case against her. In March, a judge ordered Haddix to pay $224,000 within seven days, but that figure ballooned by $13,020 in interest after Haddix failed to comply, according to court documents. To help pay her legal bills, Aswegan said Haddix might consider starting a GoFundMe.
But Haddix isn't so sure. “I don't know if you would call it shock,” she says through tears. “I don't even know what to think… They took my baby and as soon as they took him away, I was like, 'I'm in shock.'” [to get] “Keep things going.”
