Dallas Zoo missing monkeys suspect found incompetent to stand trial
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dallas Zoo missing monkeys suspect planned to keep stealing animals, court docs reveal
Police say the man suspected of stealing two monkeys from the Dallas Zoo last week admitted he broke into the zoo at night, stole the monkeys and then took them on a DART train to an abandoned house.
DALLAS - The man accused of stealing two monkeys from the Dallas Zoo was ruled incompetent and will not face trial.
Police said Davion Irvin confessed to stealing two emperor tamarin monkeys in late January.
Dallas Zoo missing monkeys suspect planned to keep stealing animals, court docs reveal
Police say the man suspected of stealing two monkeys from the Dallas Zoo last week admitted he broke into the zoo at night, stole the monkeys and then took them on a DART train to an abandoned house.
The animals were later found safe at a vacant home in Lancaster, a few miles south of the zoo.
Irvin is also accused of cutting enclosures in another monkey exhibit and the clouded leopard habitat. One clouded leopard escaped but was later found on the zoo grounds.
Dallas Zoo: Clouded leopard doing fine; hole in monkey enclosure being investigated
The Dallas Zoo's animal care team has been monitoring Nova since she was recovered Friday evening.
According to court documents, Irvin told investigators after his arrest that he planned to steal more animals because he likes animals.
A Dallas County grand jury indicted him in March for misdemeanor animal cruelty and felony burglary charges.
Davion Irvin (Source: Dallas Jail)
However, records show a court-ordered psychiatrist last month found him incompetent for criminal proceedings.
Irvin was ordered to spend time in a state hospital.