Ohio farm where exotic animals were let loose facing foreclosure

(CBS/AP) ZANESVILLE, Ohio - Prosecutors have filed foreclosure notices for the eastern Ohio farm where a suicidal man released dozens of tigers, bears and other exotic animals that had to be killed by authorities last fall.

The Zanesville Times Recorder reports the man's widow, Marian Thompson, owes more than $14,000 in back taxes on 70 acres.

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Prosecutor Michael Haddox says his office tries to resolve such matters before filing foreclosures.

"We want someone to pay their taxes," Haddox told the paper. "We don't want to file foreclosures and try to resolve these matters beforehand. We sent a letter to Mrs. Thompson in November and have not heard any response."

The Wednesday court filings came days after two surviving leopards, two primates and a bear were returned to the farm. They had been kept at the Columbus zoo for months under a state quarantine order. The animals had been released when Marian Thompson's husband, Terry, released his exotic animals on Oct. 18 and then committed suicide.

Thompson's attorney told the newspaper Thursday he hadn't seen the foreclosure documents and couldn't comment.