SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE (June 2, 2022): A couple was charged with leaving two marmosets in a hot car outside of a theme park in June 2021. On May 27, 2022, Nova and David Brettell pled guilty to an animal cruelty charge.
They were fined $500 each and had are prohibited from owning companion animals for up to 10 years, according to court documents. They will also need to attend counseling at an animal treatment program, according to court records. They will also be on supervised probation for around a year.
One of the marmosets died in the car, while the other was taken to an animal hospital in Morristown for treatment. Court records said that the marmoset, named "Kee Kee," appeared to be 9 months old when it died. Sevierville police previously said the monkey was around 9 weeks old.
Court records said it appeared the monkeys were locked in the car for more than an hour. Nova was cradling the young monkey to her chest when deputies arrived, according to court records.
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ORIGINAL: A 9-week-old marmoset was found dead inside a hot car parked outside Soaky Mountain Waterpark in Sevierville Wednesday afternoon. Another 5-week-old marmoset was found in extreme distress due to the heat.
The Sevierville Police Department said they received a call from management at the park about monkeys at around 4:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found the older marmoset dead in the car. The younger one was sent to Appalachian Animal Hospital in Morristown for treatment.
The outside temperature at the time was around 87 degrees Fahrenheit. Officials said the temperature inside of cars can rise to around 120 degrees in about half an hour during warm weather.
The animal hospital reported that the younger monkey's condition is improving, although it is dehydrated.
Both owners of the marmosets have been charged. Nova Brettell, 54, and David Paul Brettell, both from Indiana, face animal cruelty charges. Additional charges are also possible, police said.
Officials said a court date is scheduled for January 28, 2022.