No charges against parents of boy who fell into gorilla enclave- Prosecutor

The parents of a 3-year-old boy who crept into a gorilla enclosure leading to the fatal shooting of an endangered gorilla to protect the child will not be charged for the killing of the endangered gorilla Hamilton County’s prosecutor say.

Legal experts have said that prosecution on child endangerment or similar charges seems unlikely.

“A prosecutor should not bring a case unless there is probable cause. And even if there’s probable cause, there is the notion of doing justice. He should not bring a case unless he believes that he has the evidence to prove that case,” UC law and criminal justice professor Christo Lassiter told WLWT News 5 previously.

Prosecutor Joe Deters talked about what led to his decision in a press conference Monday afternoon. He said the mother of the boy did not act in a way that presented harm to her child.

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“She was being attentive to three other children when her 3-year-old “scampered off,” Deters said.

Deters said parents must have recklessly created a substantial risk to the child in order to have had charges filed.

“Had she been in the bathroom smoking crack and letting her kids run around the zoo, that would be a different story,” Deters said.

The family’s spokesperson released the following statement in regards to the prosecutor’s decision:
“The family is very pleased with this decision; it is what we expected. This is one more step in allowing us to put this tragic episode behind us and return to our normal family life. 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.”

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