Friday, May 11, 2012

Prosecutors have filed foreclosure notices for the eastern Ohio farm where a suicidal man released dozens of tigers, bears and other exotic animals that had to be killed by authorities last fall.

The Zanesville Times Recorder reports the man's widow, Marian Thompson, owes more than $14,000 in back taxes on 70 acres.

Prosecutor Michael Haddox says his office tries to resolve such matters before filing foreclosures but hasn't received a response to a letter sent to Thompson in November.

The Wednesday court filings came days after two surviving leopards, two primates and a bear were returned to the farm. They had been kept at the Columbus zoo for months under a state quarantine order.

Thompson's attorney told the newspaper Thursday he hadn't seen the foreclosure documents and couldn't comment.