Man Releases 50+ Dangerous Wild Animals into the City then Kills Himself.

**Seroquel** · 10-19-2011 09:30 PM

Dangerous exotic animals deliberately freed in Ohio, officials say - latimes.com
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/201...loose-in-ohio/

The owner of an Ohio exotic-animal farm deliberately released his animals then killed himself, Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said Wednesday.

Speaking at a televised news conference, Lutz said there have been numerous complaints about the operation of Muskingum County Animal Farm in recent years and that officials have made repeated visits to the facility. The 40-acre farm was home to about 50 big-game animals, including Bengal tigers, lions, cheetahs, wolves, giraffes, camels and grizzly bears.

The facility was owned and operated by Terry Thompson, whose body was found at the farm Tuesday evening, with some of the fierce animals prowling nearby.

Epic irl troll. Your thoughts.

**Irken** · 10-19-2011 09:41 PM

How is that a troll? Absurd maybe but the fact that it actually happened is kinda serious.

**Darkmatters** · 10-19-2011 10:01 PM

Yah that's crazy... what a way to go. Like a murder suicide, but he decided to take out not only his lions tigers and bears but any innocent people they might have happened across before they got done in too. Ohio really needs to change its laws concerning people owning exotic animals.

**kookyinc** · 10-19-2011 10:10 PM

I feel like a horrible person for finding this pretty awesome.

**Arch** · 10-19-2011 10:35 PM

Why did he kill himself after, if you're going to die you may as well try and ride a bear around the city causing endless havoc!

**Wayfaerer** · 10-19-2011 10:39 PM

What a hero. I don't understand why he killed himself either.

**Puffin** · 10-19-2011 10:58 PM

What an idiot. Talk about abandoning all dignity, and potentially leaving behind a family that's completely shocked and embarrassed.

**Original Poster** · 10-19-2011 11:06 PM

Yeah embarrassment. That was his primary concern...

**Wayfaerer** · 10-19-2011 11:10 PM

Maybe the animals WERE his family and he was just sacrificing himself for their honor and freedom, you don't know all the circumstances.

**Puffin** · 10-19-2011 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by Wayfaerer

Maybe the animals WERE his family and he was just sacrificing himself for their honor and freedom, you don't know all the circumstances.

He should have known the implications of releasing them in the way he did; there's really no excuse for his actions unless he was completely crazy. From what I've read, clearly he was selfish enough to not care that these dangerous animals were capable of injuring or killing people, and what the aftermath of all this would be. If he was truly noble, he wouldn't have set them all out into the city.

**Original Poster** · 10-19-2011 11:32 PM

Yeah I agree whatever he was trying to accomplish, it doesn't make much sense. It's easier to assume he was unhinged.

**Seroquel** · 10-19-2011 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by Puffin

He should have known the implications of releasing them in the way he did; there's really no excuse for his actions unless he was completely crazy. From what I've read, clearly he was selfish enough to not care that these dangerous animals were capable of injuring or killing people, and what the aftermath of all this would be. If he was truly noble, he wouldn't have set them all out into the city.

All the animals had to be killed, unfortunately.

Also, it was reported that an escaped monkey was eaten by one of the lions.

**Wayfaerer** · 10-20-2011 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by Puffin

He should have known the implications of releasing them in the way he did; there's really no excuse for his actions unless he was completely crazy. From what I've read, clearly he was selfish enough to not care that these dangerous animals were capable of injuring or killing people, and what the aftermath of all this would be. If he was truly noble, he wouldn't have set them all out into the city.

Maybe he trusted his family enough not to act so uncivilized. It's not like he told them to be aggressive and eat monkeys, that was on them. If anything I feel bad for him for having such an ungrateful family.

**Quantiq** · 10-20-2011 12:06 AM

What a joke. Honestly, what was this guy's goal in the first place? Cause havoc that he couldn't watch in the first place because he's dead? This is why mentally insane people who are about to do this kind of idiocy should be locked up in an insane asylum. Quite clearly, I'm sure his family knew about this too. If I knew one of my family members was like this I would get them to see a psychologist ASAP.

Originally Posted by Puffin

He should have known the implications of releasing them in the way he did; there's really no excuse for his actions unless he was completely crazy. From what I've read, clearly he was selfish enough to not care that these dangerous animals were capable of injuring or killing people, and what the aftermath of all this would be. If he was truly noble, he wouldn't have set them all out into the city.

He wouldn't have killed himself either...

**Spartiate** · 10-20-2011 12:57 AM

I'm disgusted that this person was even able to own all these animals, some of which were critically endangered...

**Xei** · 10-20-2011 01:11 AM

Meh. If you're going to kill yourself you may as well be as awesome as this guy in the process.

I actually find this kind of heart-warming/funny/poetic.

**Puffin** · 10-20-2011 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by Xei

Meh. If you're going to kill yourself you may as well be as awesome as this guy in the process.

I actually find this kind of heart-warming/funny/poetic.

If this is awesome, then it's an awesomely big mess. A real shame... Especially for the animals.

**Wayfaerer** · 10-20-2011 01:39 AM

Originally Posted by Seroquel

All the animals had to be killed, unfortunately.

Damn, why couldn't they just have tranquilized them?

wow, I just saw a picture of all the animals they had to kill... that is F'd up. That really is a shame but I don't know whether to be more mad at the guy who released them or the cops who killed them if they didn't have to. This is why animals belong in their NATURAL HABITAT which should actually still exist and be open to visitors who want to see them so bad.

**Ne-yo** · 10-20-2011 02:06 AM

This is the same guy who was on the HLS domestic terrorist watch list and had those high caliber illegal weapons and explosives seized from his property by the ATF back in 2008. This guy definitely had some serious issues.

I was thinking the same thing also Wayfaerer. I would've thought they would've tried to tranquilize them considering most are on the verge of extinction.

**acatalephobic** · 10-20-2011 02:18 AM

I was wondering if this story would show up here...heard about it on the radio this morning.

Oh Ohio. So sad.

Unbalanced and suicidal tendancies combined with an extreme lack of concern for the safety of himself, the numerous animals whose lives depended on him, and also the public at large? Oh yeah, apparently he just had awesome to spare.

I mean seriously, wtf.

**ooflendoodle** · 10-20-2011 02:52 AM

Well when your about to commit suicide the reasoning that all the animals you release will be killed probably isn't present. Anyways the reason they couldn't tranquilize them is because you have to track the animals after you shoot them with the tranquilizer, it doesn't take effect immediately, it was night time so apparently they couldn't do that, poor guy. (but yeah when I first heard about that I did chuckle at the fact he released all of the animals)

**snoop** · 10-20-2011 10:13 PM

I found this a bit funny myself. Not necessarily that this really happened, but the concept of it all in a more light-hearted, abstract kind of way. Regardless, this guy obviously knew what he was doing and/or didn't care. Well, the third option, that he was completely off his rocker, is valid too. Whether or not he was in the right state of mind, not everyone is or pretends to be completely moral and caring for others and their rights (with maybe the exception of their own friends and family). Personally I think anyone that puts out a front like that is a hypocrite and probably full of themselves, but that's another topic for discussion. Hopefully all the released animals are captured/killed/dealt with and accounted for and no one else is injured. Not really because I think it would be awful if someone I don't even know were injured but because personally I know I wouldn't want it to be me and I'd be a hypocrite if I said otherwise. Of course I'm assuming others wouldn't want it to be them either; who knows, it could be somebody's dream to be mauled by an exotic tiger or giraffe.