Nearly 100 live, dead birds inside Troy home

“I was horrified by what I saw,”

said veterinary technician Jim Tinnell, who claims he convinced Ratcliff to let him remove 10 birds from the home that could be saved.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in
my 40 years of caring for animals”
…more

Mazzola’s animals relocated (with video)

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP — The area around 9978 North Marks Road will never be the same because the wild animals that belonged to the late Sam Mazzola, who died on July 10, are no longer there.

Mazzola’s collection of exotic animals such as lions, bears, and tigers are well-known throughout the area because he often invited neighbors to see them.

Since his death, three bears were relocated to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colo.

Pat Craig, the executive director of the animal sanctuary, said that a woman who said that she was Mazzola’s girlfriend called his sanctuary and told them that they were looking for a place for his bears. The sanctuary is one of only two in the country to take in bears...see video

Sam Mazzola's death surrounded in even more controversy than his life

New details emerging in the investigation in to Sam Mazzola's and the animals left behind…see video

Teen boy chained Mazzola

Mazzola’s death is another chapter in the story of the controversial wild animal owner. For years, he was the subject of complaints and investigations concerning the animals he kept at his North Marks Road home in Columbia Station and the bear wrestling act he operated before it was shut down...more

FOX 8 WJW - Cleveland: Mazzola's Animals Removed

As the investigation continues into the death of exotic animal trainer Sam Mazzola, dozens of animals are being removed from his sanctuary in Lorain County. Fox 8's Jack Shea has the story...see video

Owner of Ohio bear that killed caretaker dies during sexual role-playing

Sam Mazzola, 49, was found last week face down on his water bed, wearing a mask and with his arms and legs restrained, said Dr. Frank P. Miller III, a pathologist at the Lorain County coroner's office...more

Authorities want to know who was at Sam Mazzola's home in the hours before he died

Lorain County Sheriff's deputies are still trying to determine who was at Sam Mazzola's North Marks Road compound in the hours before and after he died...more

Exotic animal owner Sam Mazzola died bound in his home during an apparent sex act gone wrong, coroner says

Exotic-animal owner Sam Mazzola was found dead in his Columbia Station home Sunday, "bound to the bed with handcuffs, chains and padlocks," said Lorain County Deputy Coroner Frank Miller...more

Sam Mazzola was found handcuffed to bed, coroner says

Controversial exotic animal owner Sam Mazzola, who was found dead Sunday at his North Marks Road compound, died of asphyxia due to an airway obstruction, Deputy Lorain County Coroner Frank Miller said Monday...more