Sondra Herold, the Connecticut woman whose beloved 200-pound chimp Travis severely mauled her friend, died last night of an aortic aneurysm. Her lawyer said, "Ms. Herold had suffered a series of heartbreaking losses over the last several years, beginning with the death of her only child, then her husband, then her beloved chimp Travis, as well as the tragic maiming of friend and employee Charla Nash. In the end, her heart, which had been broken so many times before, could take no more." more ›

Connecticut prosecutors have decided not to charge the owner of a chimpanzee that attacked the owner's friend and employee, leaving the woman severely disfigured. According to the Hartford Courant, "Stamford State's Attorney David Cohen said Monday that an investigation did not determine that [owner Sondra] Herold... had acted recklessly in her care of the 200-pound chimp, or that she had disregarded information that the chimp, named Travis, was dangerous." more ›

Earlier this year, a Connecticut woman was severely mauled by her friend's 200-pound pet chimp Travis. Charla Nash "lost her nose, lips, eyelids, hands and bone structure in her mid-face and suffered significant brain, eye and tissue injuries in the attack," and her family sued chimp owner Sondra Herold for $50 million in damages. Now, Herold is seeking to call the suit a worker's compensation claim—because Nash worked for her and Travis the chimp was a part of the business. more ›

The older brother of the Connecticut woman who was severely mauled by her friend's 200-pound chimpanzee in February told the Daily News, "When she gets knocked down, she gets back up...Her psychiatrist asked her if she wanted to know anything about the event. She said, 'Nope. That's in the past.'" Charla Nash has been at the Cleveland Clinic for treatment; older brother Stephen and twin brother Michael have been taking turns being with her in Ohio and caring for her daughter in Connecticut. Michael Nash said, "Her acceptance [of her injuries] just shows her courage and fortitude. She's not concerned about what happened, she just wants to get fixed," adding that the letters and cards from people wishing for her recovery have helped her. The brothers also spoke to the AP over the weekend, saying that their sister was scared of the chimp owned by Nash's friend and employer Sondra Herold, noting that Nash had welded the chimp's cage a few times. However, Herold's lawyer wonders why Nash would willing come to Herold's house if she was scared; the brothers filed a $50 million lawsuit against Herold. more ›

The Connecticut woman who was severely mauled by her friend's chimpanzee is making progress, according to her brothers. Charla Nash, who is at the Cleveland Clinic (she reportedly "lost her nose, lips, eyelids, hands and bone structure in her mid-face"), was upgraded to critical but stable condition from just critical condition. Stephen and Michael Nash told the AP that she said her first word—"Lisa," the name of her nurse—two weeks ago. Now she's asking for her daughter (helped by a voice box), listens to music, and "tells her nurses if she is cold, tired or wants to be left alone." However, she does not know how injured she is: "Michael Nash said that with her level of sedation reduced, she will probably start asking questions soon about why she is in the hospital -- and a trauma expert is there to help her." While it's still unclear what brain damage his sister has suffered, Stephen Nash said, "I'm a lot more optimistic now. Everything she does is going in the right direction." The Nash family has sued chimp owner Sondra Herold for $50 million in damages. more ›

A lawyer representing the family of Charla Nash, the Connecticut woman severely mauled by her friend's 200-pound chimpanzee, said an lawsuit is "imminent." Attorney Charles J. Willinger, Jr. filed preliminary papers seeking $50 million in damages from chimp owner Sondra Herold and will speak with reporters today. The AP reports the "papers seek an accounting of Herold's assets and a court order that would prevent her from selling or mortgaging them, including six pieces of property she owns and her stake in a Stamford used car dealership." Nash, who is at the Cleveland Clinic, "lost her nose, lips, eyelids, hands and bone structure in her mid-face and suffered significant brain, eye and tissue injuries in the attack," and her recovery potential is unclear. Her twin brother and legal guardian, Michael, has stated, "No amount of money can compensate my sister for the injuries she has suffered." more ›

Charla Nash, the Connecticut woman who was severely mauled by a friend's pet chimpanzee, remains under sedation, according to her doctors at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. The Stamford Advocate reports that they revealed the extent of her injuries as well: Nash, 55, "lost her nose, lips, eyelids, hands and bone structure in her mid-face and suffered significant brain, eye and tissue injuries in the attack." The hospital said that while her injuries have stabilized, "critical issues still remain related to a significant traumatic brain injury and injuries to her eyes that threaten her vision." The Stamford, CT police say the toxicology results for 200-pound chimp Travis, who was shot dead after the attack, will be available in the next few days. The decision whether the police will charge Travis's owner, Sondra Herold, (the police's criminal investigation is continuing) will take weeks. Nash's brother Stephen told the AP, "She's tougn. I'm optimistic. I think she can do it." more ›

The Connecticut woman severely injured by her friend's pet chimpanzee remains in critical condition. Charla Nash, 50, was transported to the Cleveland Clinic, which had performed a successful face transplant last December. However, it's unclear whether Nash is a good candidate for a transplant—a doctor at a different hospital told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Some of the traditional reconstructive techniques might not work well for this patient." more ›

The Connecticut woman who was viciously mauled by her friend's 200-pound chimp underwent surgery yesterday. The family of Charla Nash thanked people for their support, noting that she made "some good, but small progress." Her twin brother Mike Nash said, "It should be known that people who were complete strangers to us prior to this have selflessly offered their assistance to our family, and we are eternally grateful." more ›

With a friend clinging to life after her pet chimpanzee mauled her, Sandra Herold tearfully told My Fox NY, "It's just been hell. There's no other way to explain it." Herold, a Stamford CT resident, tried to stop Travis the 200-poung chimp from attacking her friend Charla Nash by hitting him with a shovel and even stabbing him, but it wasn't until the police arrived and fatally shot the animal that Travis stopped. Herold was in shock, "He didn't have anything but love until this freak accident." She told the Post, "It was very difficult to do this, but I had to save my friend. I am so sorry for what happened to Charlie. She is my dear friend." more ›