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No Charges for Mother of Boy Who Slipped Into Gorilla Enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo No Charges for Mother of Boy Who Slipped Into Gorilla Enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo
(35 minutes later)
An Ohio prosecutor said on Monday that no charges will be brought against Michelle Gregg, 32, the mother of a 3-year-old boy whose foray into an exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo led to the killing of a gorilla and set off a frenzy of condemnation online. An Ohio prosecutor said Monday that no charges will be brought against Michelle Gregg, the mother of a 3-year-old boy whose foray into an exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo led to the killing of a gorilla and set off a frenzy of condemnation online.
The Hamilton County prosecutor, Joseph T. Deters, made the announcement at a news conference on Monday. The Hamilton County prosecutor, Joseph T. Deters, made the announcement at a news conference in Cincinnati.
“She was being attentive to her children by all witness accounts,” Mr. Deters said. “And the 3-year-old just scampered off.”“She was being attentive to her children by all witness accounts,” Mr. Deters said. “And the 3-year-old just scampered off.”
Ms. Gregg had faced intense public scrutiny, as well as unrelenting invective on social media, since the afternoon of May 28, when her son slipped away on a trip to the zoo and made a beeline into the Gorilla World enclosure. He fell more than 10 feet into a shallow moat, where a 17-year-old gorilla named Harambe dragged him around. Ms. Gregg, 32, who was also accompanied on the trip by the boy’s three sisters on May 28, had turned her back for a matter of “seconds” when he made a beeline for the Gorilla World enclosure, Mr. Deters said.
“If anyone doesn’t believe a 3-year-old can scamper off very quickly,” he said, “they’ve never had kids because they can, and they do.”
In a statement, the Gregg family said it was pleased with the decision.
“This is one more step in allowing us to put this tragic episode behind us and return to our normal family life,” it said. “We extend thanks to all of those who have been praying for us and who have supported us through this trying ordeal and praise to God for His mercy and grace.”
Ms. Gregg had faced intense public scrutiny, as well as unrelenting invective on social media, over what some saw as her failure to block the boy from the pen. He fell more than 10 feet into a shallow moat and was then dragged around by a 17-year-old gorilla named Harambe.
Zoo workers, fearing for the child’s safety, shot and killed the animal.Zoo workers, fearing for the child’s safety, shot and killed the animal.
By early Monday, a petition demanding that Ms. Gregg be investigated for evidence of child neglect had nearly half a million signatures from people who called her lapse “unacceptable” and “grossly negligent.” By early Monday, a petition demanding that Ms. Gregg be investigated for evidence of child neglect had nearly half a million signatures from people who called her attention to the boy “unacceptable” and “grossly negligent.”
“Make them pay,” one supporter wrote.“Make them pay,” one supporter wrote.
Ms. Gregg has declined to give interviews, but in statements released through a spokeswoman, Gail Myers, the family said it had cooperated with the police investigation into the episode, and was evaluating whether to hire a lawyer. But the family had no plans to sue to zoo, Ms. Myers said. Ms. Gregg has declined to give interviews, but in statements released through a spokeswoman, Gail Myers, the family said it had cooperated with the police investigation and was evaluating whether to hire a lawyer. But the family had no plans to sue the zoo, Ms. Myers said.
Jon Sinclair, a criminal defense lawyer in Cincinnati, said prosecutors in the state have plenty of leeway to pursue charges in such cases. Ohio’s child-endangerment statute requires only that a parent “create a substantial risk to the health or safety of the child.” Jon Sinclair, a criminal defense lawyer in Cincinnati, said state prosecutors had plenty of leeway to pursue charges in such cases. Ohio’s child-endangerment statute requires only that a parent “create a substantial risk to the health or safety of the child.”
“There are millions of situations in the world, and in your home, and at the McDonalds — it allows any possible situation where a parent is being neglectful,” he said. “There are millions of situations in the world, and in your home, and at the McDonald’s — it allows any possible situation where a parent is being neglectful,” he said.
Witnesses at the zoo enclosure said the boy had slipped into the enclosure before anybody could react. Harambe, a western lowland gorilla weighing more than 420 pounds, took a keen interest in the child. Witnesses at the zoo said the boy had slipped into the enclosure before anybody could react. Harambe, a western lowland gorilla weighing more than 420 pounds, at times seemed to take a protective posture with the child, but he also yanked him violently by the ankle.
The gorilla at times seemed to take a protective posture with the child, but he also yanked him violently by the ankle. Thane Maynard, the zoo’s director, said the boy’s head was “banging on concrete.” The screams of the crowd added another volatile element, causing Harambe to become agitated and disoriented, zoo officials said. Thane Maynard, the zoo’s director, said the boy’s head was “banging on concrete.” The screams of the crowd added another volatile element, causing Harambe to become agitated and disoriented, zoo officials said.
In the mother’s 911 call, she is frantic: “He’s dragging my son,” she says. “I can’t watch this. I can’t. I can’t.” In the mother’s 911 call, she sounds frantic: “He’s dragging my son,” she says. “I can’t watch this. I can’t. I can’t.”
After about 10 minutes, workers fired a single shot from a rifle, killing Harambe as he stood over the boy.After about 10 minutes, workers fired a single shot from a rifle, killing Harambe as he stood over the boy.
The zoo faced harsh questions over its decision to use live rounds rather than a tranquilizer dart, and was criticized for a security barrier that could be so easily breached by a small boy.The zoo faced harsh questions over its decision to use live rounds rather than a tranquilizer dart, and was criticized for a security barrier that could be so easily breached by a small boy.
Mr. Maynard said that the drug would not have acted quickly enough in a situation that at any second could have turned deadly for the boy. The pierce of a dart also presented a risk of startling the powerful animal, he said.Mr. Maynard said that the drug would not have acted quickly enough in a situation that at any second could have turned deadly for the boy. The pierce of a dart also presented a risk of startling the powerful animal, he said.
The zoo has repeatedly defended the security of the barrier around the gorilla enclosure, noting that until May it had not once been breached before since opening in 1978. Still, last week it unveiled a reinforced version, raised to 42 inches and secured by wooden beams and knotted rope netting. The exhibit is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday. The zoo has repeatedly defended the security of the barrier around the gorilla enclosure, noting that until May it had not once been breached since opening in 1978. Still, last week it unveiled a reinforced version, raised to 42 inches and secured by wooden beams and knotted rope netting. The exhibit is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday.
The Department of Agriculture and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums have both opened investigations into the episode.The Department of Agriculture and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums have both opened investigations into the episode.
During his news conference, Mr. Deters defended the zoo’s decision to kill the animal: “The one thing I will say, the zoo lost a beautiful animal, one that many people in this area have enjoyed watching for a long time, but it’s still an animal.
“It does not equate human life,” he added. “And they felt that this boy’s life was in jeopardy, and they made the painful choice to do what they did.”
Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered, with fewer than 175,000 left in the wild in Africa. The zoo said Harambe, who was born in captivity and turned 17 the day before he was killed, was an intelligent and curious animal on his way to becoming a group leader.Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered, with fewer than 175,000 left in the wild in Africa. The zoo said Harambe, who was born in captivity and turned 17 the day before he was killed, was an intelligent and curious animal on his way to becoming a group leader.
Last week, the family said in a statement that it was “very appreciative for the expressions of concern and support.” It asked that people offering to send money to instead direct it instead to the Cincinnati Zoo in Harambe’s name. Last week, the Gregg family asked that people offering to send money to instead direct it to the Cincinnati Zoo in Harambe’s name.
Asked on Monday if he was influences by the media carnival surrounding the case, Mr. Deters said simply, “No.”
Jon Sinclair, a criminal defense lawyer in Cincinnati, said Mr. Deters had a reputation for independence. “This prosecutor has a long, long history in Hamilton County,” Mr. Sinclair said. “He does not get fazed by public perception.”