Mom of 5 Fatally Shoots Monkey That Escaped from Truck Crash Out of Fear for Her Kids’ Safety

A Mississippi mother of five shot and killed one of several monkeys that escaped after a highway crash, fearing for her children’s safety.

In the early hours of Sunday, Nov. 2, Jessica Bond Ferguson’s 16-year-old son alerted her that he had seen a monkey in their yard near Heidelberg, Mississippi, according to the Associated Press. When she stepped outside with her gun, she saw the animal about 60 feet away. Bond Ferguson fired because she’d been told the monkeys carried diseases.

“I did what any other mother would do to protect her children,” said Bond Ferguson, whose children range in age from 4 to 16. “I shot at it and it just stood there, and I shot again, and he backed up and that’s when he fell.”

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department later confirmed on Facebook that a homeowner living on Highway 503 near Heidelberg had found one of the escaped monkeys on their property. The department stated that the animal was now in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.

“She saw it sitting on the porch of an abandoned house next to hers,” said Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson. “She said she feared for the safety of her kids and animals that she had, and she shot it.” According to Johnson, two monkeys are still missing.

The incident followed a crash involving a truck transporting Rhesus monkeys from Tulane University on Interstate 59 near mile marker 117 on Oct. 28. The driver initially claimed the monkeys carried various diseases, leading to many of them being destroyed.

Tulane University later clarified that the primates are housed at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center and are shared with “other research organizations to advance scientific discovery.” The university added, “The primates in question belong to another entity, and they have not been exposed to any infectious agent. The non-human primates were NOT being transported by Tulane, but we are collaborating with local authorities and sending a team of animal care experts to assist.”

The sheriff’s office shared Tulane’s statement online, explaining that earlier reports came from the driver, who had told officials the monkeys were dangerous and required protective equipment to handle.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks confirmed that two monkeys remain missing and that the search continues. The department did not identify the owner of the monkeys or provide details on their health but said it is coordinating with local authorities on recovery efforts.

Rhesus macaques, which can weigh between 8.75 and 26.5 pounds, play a key role in medical and scientific research. According to National Geographic, “Rhesus antigens found in their blood enabled doctors to identify the different human blood groups,” and the species also “preceded humans into space.”

Despite their scientific value, Sheriff Johnson said the escaped monkeys still needed to be “neutralized” due to their aggressive nature. He also voiced frustration over conflicting information about the animals’ health and ownership.

“I was told by the company hauling them that they carried these diseases, and if they got away from that trailer, they needed to be dispatched,” Johnson said. “And that’s what we did based on the information. I mean, if you’re hauling them, I’m gonna think you know about what you’re hauling.”

He added, “I don’t think we’ll ever have the true and correct answers. I think it’s just gonna keep getting kicked down the road and covered up until we get these other two monkeys out of here, and then that’ll be the end of that.”