This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Charla Nash Says Dan Malloy Knew Travis the Chimp Was Dangerous

In an interview with The Hartford Courant, Nash said the chimpanzee, named Travis, got loose and roamed Stamford in 2003.

resident Charla Nash, who gained national attention after she was severely mauled by her friend Sandra Herold's pet chimpanzee in 2009, requiring her to have one of the , has reportedly brought a lawsuit against the state claiming that state officials knew about the risks the exotic pet posed. Nash also claims that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy knew the animal was dangerous while he was serving as Mayor of Stamford.

In an interview with the Hartford Courant, Nash said the chimpanzee, named Travis, got loose and roamed Stamford in 2003. After Travis was caught, Malloy allowed Herold to take him back home and warned that he should be locked up, according to the report.

Roy Occhiogrosso, Gov. Malloy's senior advisor, reportedly told the Courant that Malloy may have met and spoken with Herold at one of his public meetings, but they never discussed the chimp or the escaping incident.

Find out what's happening in Stamfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Nash doesn't remember the horrifying attack, in which she lost a hand, both eyes, and most of her face, according to the Hartford Courant report. In the interview she talks about her experience listening to a recording of the 911 call placed by Herold when the attack was taking place, particularly noting the chimp's violent screaming in the background.

The chimp was shot and killed by police when the attack took place.

Find out what's happening in Stamfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Herold died of a heart attack in May 2010. Nash has reportedly also filed a lawsuit against Herold's estate, which is still pending.

Last year Congress passed the , which aims to eliminate the interstate sale of monkeys, apes and other non-human primates in the exotic pet trade. The bill was first introduced in 2007, but the Senate never took it up. It was resurrected in 2009, following the Nash attack, and was backed by several U.S. Senators including Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?