Home / Crime and Justice / Pelican Bay Woman Fights to Keep Her "Monkey" Companion
Pelican Bay Woman Fights to Keep Her "Monkey" Companion
9 Sep
Summary
- Pelican Bay woman owns a spider monkey named Abu
- Monkey bit a police officer who was taking a photo with it
- Owner faces no criminal charges but must relinquish the monkey
- Lawyer working to transfer monkey to a certified primate facility
On September 9th, 2025, a Pelican Bay woman, known by many as the "monkey woman," is facing the possibility of losing her furry companion, Abu, a spider monkey. The woman, whose first name is Carmen, was under investigation for owning the animal, as keeping a spider monkey in the municipality is against the city's ordinance.
Prior to securing an attorney, Carmen claimed she was unaware of the local law, and public safety members had even taken pictures with the animal. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when a police officer, Sgt. Justin Spurgeon, was bitten by the monkey while attempting to take a photo with it. Spurgeon said the monkey "lunged" from Carmen's shoulder and bit him on the elbow, drawing blood.
As a result, the authorities seized the spider monkey, and Abu was voluntarily surrendered by his owners. The animal was sent to a facility in Johnson County, but Carmen alleges he is being kept in a "bird's cage." Carmen's attorney, Dan Wyde, is now working to have Abu transferred to the Funky Monkey Ranch Primate Preserve, a facility that is "primate" certified.
Pelican Bay Police Chief Brad Anderson stated that the matter will be handled in a hearing next week, and the judge will decide whether the animal will be returned to Carmen or placed with another organization. While the city's ordinance allows for the euthanasia of the animal in certain instances, Anderson has no intentions of doing so.
