A Tragic Incident Unfolds in Newark: The Ronald Huff Story

On the evening of January 13th, 2002, Ronald Huff, a 42-year-old man living in a studio apartment in Newark, Delaware, returned home from visiting his grandmother. He was feeling unwell, and upon entering his apartment, he was greeted by an environment he had carefully designed—blazing hot temperatures, handmade wooden cages scattered across his living room, and an unusual assortment of pets.

Ronald made his way to his kitchen and, despite feeling lightheaded and sick, went about his nightly routine. He called the auto dealership where he worked, informing them that he wouldn't be able to come in due to his illness. After hanging up, he struggled through the pain of an injured, bandaged right hand and managed to complete his bizarre household chore—feeding his unusual companions, a group of seven giant monitor lizards. He tossed a handful of live cockroaches, which served as food for the reptiles, onto the floor and watched as they scattered.

His condition rapidly deteriorated, however. As Ronald tried to walk towards his bedroom, the dizziness overtook him. He staggered and eventually collapsed near the door of his apartment. Moments later, he passed out, unaware of the horror that would soon follow.

Three days later, on January 16th, Huff's neighbor noticed the arrival of police officers and the superintendent outside Ronald’s apartment. Ronald had not been seen for days, and concerned, the officers knocked repeatedly on his door. When no response came, the superintendent used a key to unlock the door, but something heavy was blocking it from fully opening. The officers managed to force it ajar just enough to peer inside. What they saw immediately made them recoil in horror, hands on their weapons.

The neighbor watched the scene unfold from a distance, stunned as the officers called for backup. When they left the hallway, he cautiously peered into Ronald’s apartment through the open door. What he saw inside was something straight out of a nightmare.

Ronald’s lifeless body lay on the floor, his face, ears, hands, and internal organs gruesomely mutilated. Around him, his secret pets—seven enormous monitor lizards—roamed freely. Ranging in size from 2 to 6 feet, these carnivorous reptiles had been feeding on their owner after he had passed out. 

Authorities soon discovered that Ronald had been keeping these giant lizards as pets in secret. He fed them live cockroaches and raw chicken, allowing them to roam freely inside his apartment. In the days leading up to his death, Ronald had suffered a bite from one of his lizards, which led to a severe staph infection. This infection likely caused him to collapse and eventually die, though it remains unclear whether he was still alive when the lizards began eating him. 

After his death, Ronald's lizards were removed from his apartment and relocated to the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo in Thurmont, Maryland, where they would be housed safely away from human interaction. This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers associated with keeping wild and exotic animals as pets.

Ronald Huff's story became a chilling example of the risks of exotic pet ownership, sparking debates and raising awareness about the importance of responsible animal care.