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Family Of Fatal Zoo Mauling Victim Wants Answers

POSTED: 4:23 am MDT June 8, 2007

The family of a woman who was fatally mauled by a jaguar in an unlocked Denver Zoo enclosure said they still haven't been given answers or information about her death.

Ashlee Pfaff, 27, was attacked by a 140-pound jaguar and died from her injuries on Feb. 24. The jaguar was shot and then had a jugular vein cut in order to euthanize it.

An autopsy determined that Pfaff died of a broken neck and had extensive internal injuries.

The jaguar was able to reach Pfaff though an exhibit door that had been left unlocked and a Denver police investigation was not able to determine why it was left unlocked or who was responsible.

The Pfaff family released a statement to the media Thursday evening, complaining that they still haven't been told basic facts surrounding the death of Ashlee Pfaff.

"It has been over three months since our precious Ashlee was tragically attacked and killed by a jaguar at the Denver Zoo. The family of Ashlee Pfaff in its quest to find out exactly what happened, how it happened, and why it happened has made numerous requests to the Denver Zoo for information:

We have requested investigation reports, and to date, have received none.
We have requested photographs, and to date, have received none.
We have requested video, and to date, have received none.
We have requested personnel files and to date, have received none.
We have requested training files and to date, have received none.

We have heard that there have been countless interviews, but we have yet to see any. So, we must say at this time, we still have many more questions than answers."

The Denver Zoo said previously that it would not release details of its investigation into the woman's death until it is completed, and did not say how long it would take finish the investigation.

The Denver police investigation determined that no crime had been committed, although it could not determine why the door was left open.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the workplace death, as well as the Department of Agriculture and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.


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