Jeffrey Sasse
Dawn Brancheau loved whales like they were her own children, her sister told The Associated Press. But the 40-year-old trainer was killed by one of the animals she loved most - Tilikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale.
Jeffrey Sasse
The attack happened Feb. 24, 2010 at SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando. Witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by the arm and tossed it around in its mouth while horrified spectators looked on.
Jeffrey Sasse
Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.
Jeffrey Sasse
Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.
Jeffrey Sasse
Dawn Brancheau loved whales like they were her own children, her sister told The Associated Press. But the 40-year-old trainer was killed by one of the animals she loved most - Tilikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale.
Jeffrey Sasse
The attack happened Feb. 24, 2010 at SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando. Witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by the arm and tossed it around in its mouth while horrified spectators looked on.
Jeffrey Sasse
Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.
Jeffrey Sasse
Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.
Jeffrey Sasse
Dawn Brancheau loved whales like they were her own children, her sister told The Associated Press. But the 40-year-old trainer was killed by one of the animals she loved most - Tilikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale.
Jeffrey Sasse
The attack happened Feb. 24, 2010 at SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando. Witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by the arm and tossed it around in its mouth while horrified spectators looked on.
Jeffrey Sasse
Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.
Jeffrey Sasse
Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.
Jeffrey Sasse
Dawn Brancheau loved whales like they were her own children, her sister told The Associated Press. But the 40-year-old trainer was killed by one of the animals she loved most - Tilikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale.
Jeffrey Sasse
The attack happened Feb. 24, 2010 at SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando. Witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by the arm and tossed it around in its mouth while horrified spectators looked on.
Jeffrey Sasse
Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.
Jeffrey Sasse
Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.
Jeffrey Sasse
Dawn Brancheau loved whales like they were her own children, her sister told The Associated Press. But the 40-year-old trainer was killed by one of the animals she loved most - Tilikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale.
Jeffrey Sasse
The attack happened Feb. 24, 2010 at SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando. Witnesses told the Orlando Sentinel that Tilikum grabbed Dawn Brancheau by the arm and tossed it around in its mouth while horrified spectators looked on.
Jeffrey Sasse
Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.
Jeffrey Sasse
Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.
AP Photo/John Raoux
Sea World employees stand in front of a locked gate leading to a bridge to the entrance of the Shamu Stadium after an incident involving the death of a trainer in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010.
AP Photo/John Raoux
SeaWorld guests watch dolphins swim in a pool in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. A killer whale killed a SeaWorld Orlando trainer who slipped or fell in its tank Wednesday, drowning her in front of a horrified audience.
AP/Seaworld Orlando/Chris Gotshall
In this Friday, May 13, 2005 file photo provided by SeaWorld, actress Evangeline Lilly, from the ABC television show "Lost", plays with Shamu, at SeaWorld Orlando, in Orlando, Fla. An employee at SeaWorld Orlando has died after being attacked by a killer whale Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010.
AP Photo/John Raoux
The entrance to SeaWorld is seen after an incident involving the death of a trainer at the park in Orlando, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. The park remained open and only the area where the incident occurred was closed off to guests.
AP Photo/John Raoux
Sea World general manager Dan Brown, left, walks with Orange County Sheriff investigators after an incident involving the death of a trainer at Sea World in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010.
AP Photo/John Raoux
Sea World general manager Dan Brown, left, walks with Orange County Sheriff investigators after an incident involving the death of a trainer at Sea World in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010.
AP Photo/John Raoux
Sea World general manager Dan Brown reads a statement at a news conference after an incident involving the death of a whale trainer in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010.
AP Photo/John Raoux
Employees lock a back gate near the Shamu Stadium after an incident involving the death of a trainer at Sea World in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010.
Jeffrey Sasse
Tilikum was known to be a difficult animal. Only about a dozen of the SeaWorld's 29 trainers worked with him. Dawn Brancheau was one of them and had more experience with him than most. Tilikum was involved in two previous deaths. He was one of three animals involved in the 1991 death of a trainer. And in 1999, a homeless man's body was found draped over Tilikum. That man died of hypothermia. It's not clear if Tilikum contributed to his demise.
Jeffrey Sasse
Dawn Brancheau grew up near the northwestern Indiana town of Cedar Lake. Her passion for marine life began at the age of nine on a family trip to Sea World. Her sister Diane Gross said that she loved whales and would never want any harm to come to Tilikum.
