PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A veterinarian and co-founder of Hope Elephants, which cares for retired circus elephants, was killed Tuesday when one of the animals stepped on him, police said in ruling his death an accident.
Knox County Sheriff's Office deputies said they found James Laurita, 56, unresponsive in the barn at the foundation in Hope, about 87 miles northeast of Portland. Laurita appeared to have fallen before one of the foundation's two elephants apparently stepped on him, police said, citing a medical examiner's report.
