Roy Horn Tiger Mauling Case Closed

Investigators Say Still No Answer Why Tiger Mauled Roy Horn

(AP) 
Detectives with the Las Vegas Police Department's homeland security unit were assigned to the case because some of the scenarios that were suggested — among them, that animal-rights activists provoked the attack, or that it was an act of economic terrorism against Las Vegas.

MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman said the resort wanted authorities to look at the possibility that someone deliberately distracted the tiger, since the animal had performed 2,000 times without incident.

He said the casino was flooded with e-mails such as this one the USDA included in its report: "If there is audio & video of the tiger attack it should be analyzed for far-UV and or high ultra sonics, as well as other triggers that might be the work of a terrorist aiming at a high profile GAY target."

Las Vegas police also said there was no proof a woman with a "beehive hairdo" distracted the tiger or it had been sprayed with a scent that drove the animal wild.

"At the end of it all, we don't have a reason," Feldman said.

The manager of Horn and his show business partner, Siegfried Fischbacher, did not immediately return messages for comment.

The USDA report provides new details about the sequence of events before and after the attack. It said that a show employee pulled the tiger's tail, jumped on the animal and grabbed it by the mouth to try to get it to release Horn. At the same time, another employee sprayed Montecore with a carbon dioxide canister. The tiger finally let go.

In its final report, the USDA said the "Siegfried & Roy" show failed to protect the audience because it had no barrier separating the exotic animals from the crowd.

"The big cats could have easily jumped off the stage and into the audience," said USDA official Robert M. Gibbens, who attended an earlier performance.

The USDA issued a letter of noncompliance to the illusionists' production company, S&R Productions, but the warning did not carry any penalties.

It is not clear why the USDA did not advise the company earlier about erecting a barrier. The agency conducted at least four routine inspections at the Mirage since mid-December 2002. The USDA did not immediately respond to an e-mail for comment.