Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
BY SCOTT MALONE
ANCHOR LAUREN GORES
An Idaho man is in police custody in connection with the death of a zoo animal. KSDK, WTTE
and KTFT have the details.
“Police in Boise say 22-year-old Michael Watkins broke into the zoo Saturday and beat
a monkey to death. Officials are still trying to determine a motive for the attack. Right
now Watkins is facing charges of burglary and grand theft.”
“Police say he was one of two men spotted in the zoo over the weekend just before the
monkey was found seriously hurt. Authorities say the primate died from blunt force trauma
to the head and neck.”
“Boise police say Watkins went to a local hospital Saturday morning with injuries to
his upper body. The cause of the injuries still not known, but police say the suspect’s
story of how he got hurt didn’t add up.”
According to NBC News, Watkins has several drug arrests on his criminal record. But,
police don’t know whether he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time
of the break-in.
CNN reports police have spoken with the other man seen outside of the zoo, but they don’t
expect him to be charged.
Zoo officials say they are trying to get another monkey for the exhibit. If they do not, they
will have to send the remaining monkey away.