5 accused of trying to steal dead lion in Ohio

TOLEDO, Ohio - Five people have been accused of trying to steal the carcass of a lion that was among dozens of exotic animals set free from an Ohio private compound and shot dead by sheriff's deputies last month.

A prosecutor in eastern Ohio tells The Associated Press four men and a teenager were charged with misdemeanor counts of theft on Monday.

Sheriff's deputies say in documents released last week they stopped the men and the teen after they loaded the lion's body into the back of a Jeep several hours after it had been set free by the compound's owner.

Ohio deputies say bears, big cats charged them

Sheriff's deputies killed 48 wild animals including bears, lions and endangered Bengal tigers after their owner opened their cages on Oct. 18 and then committed suicide.