NEW CANEY, Texas -- A family returned home from vacation to find their home had been burglarized and their pet monkeys had been tortured, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday.
Montgomery County sheriff's deputies said the break-in happened at the family's home in New Caney shortly after they left on Dec. 14.
The home was ransacked and a computer and TV were missing. Their 9-year-old monkey, Opie, was also missing.
He was found at a nearby house last week.
"He had several scab marks and puncture wounds on his neck and on his back shoulder blade," owner Cindy Hatchel said.
Hatchel said he had also been strangled.
A 3-year-old female monkey managed to run away from the burglars.
The monkeys fought back against their attackers, Hatchel said.
"They did have some blood samples and stuff that they took from the cage," Hatchel said. "Whoever attempted to take him has been bitten and they're probably hurting pretty bad."
The Hatchels moved to New Caney from New York about three months ago.
"I would just like to start off with having the boys that did this be caught and have justice served," Hatchel said. "Until something like that is done it leaves the opportunity for something like this to happen again."
Hatchel said Opie has lost about 20 pounds since the attack.
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