Couple whose fingers and nose were ripped off by chimpanzees suffer new tragedy

A couple who made international headlines after being brutally attacked by two chimpanzees have now been hit with another tragedy.
St James and LaDonna Davis were savagely assaulted when they visited their adopted chimpanzee, Moe, at a ranch in California.
As they prepared to celebrate the chimp’s birthday, two other chimps escaped from their enclosure and launched an attack on the couple. The assault lasted several minutes until a relative of the sanctuary owner shot the attacking chimps, Ollie and Buddy.
While LaDonna lost her left thumb, her husband suffered more severe injuries, losing his right eye, nose, eight fingers, parts of his skull, lips, cheek, buttocks, genitals, and feet. He spent five months in hospital and underwent multiple surgeries but was never able to walk again or regain full use of his hands.
A recent report by NBC News revealed that following St James’ death, his cognitively impaired wife was allegedly exploited. Police found that large sums of money had been drained from her accounts, her belongings stolen, and her property taken over by a violent motorcycle gang.
LaDonna found herself ensnared in the all too rampant issue of financial exploitation, which ranks as the foremost form of abuse toward seniors. Officer Gilbert Amis from West Covina Police Department discovered LaDonna in deplorable and stinking conditions upon a property visit, reports the Mirror.
Sharing his reaction with NBC, he stated: “We’ve got to get her out of here.”
Yet the plot thickens; it turns out St James is an ex-boat racer on the professional circuit who later took up NASCAR driving, while his spouse acted as his crew chief. Adding to the unusual family dynamics, their pet chimpanzee Moe — whom they brought from Tanzania back in 1967 — performed the role of family luminary, pampered to such a degree he appeared more offspring than animal.
Yet the plot thickens; it turns out St James is an ex-boat racer on the professional circuit who later took up NASCAR driving, while his spouse acted as his crew chief. Adding to the unusual family dynamics, their pet chimpanzee Moe—whom they brought from Tanzania back in 1967—performed the role of family luminary, pampered to such a degree he appeared more offspring than animal.
Moe shared meals at the kitchen table, slept in the matrimonial bed, and even stood as best man during their nuptials. However, by 1971, West Covina officials were bent on the chimp’s removal from the residence — a saga culminating in court case that ultimately saw a judge lauding the primate.
Judge Jack Alex commented, “From what I’ve observed of Moe outside and in the courtroom, he doesn’t have the traits of a wild animal and is, in fact, somewhat better behaved than some people.”
Moe had lived with his human companions for nearly three decades until an unfortunate event where he bit a visitor resulted in his relocation to a wildlife sanctuary. The devastating attack on St James and LaDonna occurred during a visit to Moe at this sanctuary to celebrate his 39th birthday in 2005.