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‘Chimp Crazy’ Star Owes PETA $240K and Still Could Face Charges for Faking Ape’s Death

'Chimp Crazy' star Tonia Haddix could face criminal charges for faking pet chimpanzee Tonka's death, as she also owes PETA $240,000

The woman at the center of HBO’s docuseries Chimp Crazy is still on the hook for nearly $240,000 after she faked the death of her pet chimpanzee Tonka, as PETA is urging a judge to consider bringing perjury charges against her. Still, Haddix insists that she was only looking out for the well-being of her beloved chimpanzee when she sobbed loudly in front of a Missouri district judge to recount Tonka’s supposed death from congestive heart failure in May 2021. PETA also argues the series shows the extreme lengths that Haddix went to in order to fake Tonka’s death, lie to the court, and hide him across state lines and in her own home.

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