Kelly Ann Walz and her husband, Michael, were known for their passion for animals and their dedication to providing a home for various exotic creatures at their luxurious residence situated on a hilltop near Allentown, Pennsylvania. Tragedy struck when Kelly was found dead inside the enclosure where their bear, Teddy, resided, alongside the bear’s lifeless body. The couple had spent nearly a decade raising Teddy from a cub to adulthood on their property.
Kelly, 37 years old, had a specially constructed cage made of steel and concrete, which she was cleaning when Teddy attacked her, resulting in her untimely death. Prior to this incident, there had been previous issues with Teddy’s behavior. To ensure safety, the Walzs typically diverted the animals’ attention by placing food in a different section of the cage while cleaning. Despite their precautions, the fatal attack occurred during the cleaning process, leading to Kelly’s tragic demise.
Neighbours, including Scott Castone, witnessed the bear attacking Kelly, prompting Castone to intervene by fatally shooting the bear in self-defence to protect himself and the local community. While the Walzs took measures to care for their animals, a Pennsylvania Game Commission supervisor, Tim Conway, indicated that additional precautions could have been taken, such as having a two-section cage to isolate the animals during cleaning activities.
Michael Walz, identified in state records as the president of World of Reptiles Inc. at the time of the incident, was associated with a business established in 1988, which operated from their shared property. The circumstances surrounding Kelly’s tragic death shed light on the risks involved in keeping wild animals and the importance of stringent safety protocols when caring for such creatures.