FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — An autopsy report shows that a Florida zookeeper screamed for help into her radio before she was attacked and killed by a tiger earlier this year.
The Palm Beach County medical examiner determined Stacey Konwiser died of a crushed neck when attacked by the 350-pound male Malayan tiger on April 15 at the Palm Beach Zoo.
The 38-year-old Konwiser had entered the tiger pen to prepare for a presentation. The report released Friday says the tiger’s cage was supposed to be locked, but it was open. Konwiser’s co-workers ran to the tiger exhibit and found the tiger standing over her body.
Zoo officials have defended their decision not to shoot the rare tiger, saying they feared that a bullet could strike her or further enrage the tiger.
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