911 tape exposes violent chimp attack

Stamford (WTNH) - Stunning new details have emerged with the release of 911 tapes that underline the horror of when a pet chimp went on a brutal attack.

The woman who was mauled for almost 12 minutes remains in extremely critical condition. The pure terror of the situation is absorbed the instant you hear the caller's urgent plea for help.

The chimp can be heard screaming in the background.

Caller: "Send the police!"
911: "What's the problem there?"
Caller: "The chimp killed my friend"

Travis was the 200 pound chimpanzee who, for some reason, violently attacked 55-year-old Charla Nash. On the phone, his owner, 70-year-old Sandra Herold, hysterically conveys what is happening.

Herold: "He ripped her face off! He ripped her face off! He's trying to attack me! Please, please, hurry!"
911: "I need you to calm down a little bit, they're on their way."
Herold: "They gotta shoot him! Please, Please hurry, hurry! Please!"
911: "If the monkey moves away from your friend, let me know, okay? So we can try to help your friend."
Herold: "No I can't, she's dead, she's dead!"
911: "Why are you saying she's dead?"
Herold: "He ripped her apart!"
911: "He ripped what apart, her face?"
Herold: "Everything! Please, please hurry! Please, please hurry (sobbing), oh my God!"

For Herold, it seems like forever until help arrives, but it is more like minutes.

"She's dead! She's dead! Oh my God, she's dead. He ripped her apart! Please, God, hurry!" Herold said. "Please have them shoot him."

Her prayers are answered as Stamford's finest show up in force. Even the professionals seem taken back by the situation, making reference to the victim as "he."

"I have one man down. One man down, the chimp is outside," authorities said. "Hey listen, we gotta get this guy outta here, he's got no face."

After Travis attacks a squad car, an officer opens fire. The chimpanzee, mortally wounded, would walk back inside his house and die in his living quarters.