Jessica Bond Ferguson, Mother of Five, Takes Deadly Action After Primate from Recent Truck Crash Appears on Her Property

November 4, 2025 | Jackson, Mississippi – A mother of five in rural Mississippi took matters into her own hands on Sunday when she fatally shot an escaped lab monkey that wandered into her backyard, citing immediate threats to her young children and unconfirmed reports of potential diseases carried by the animal.

Jessica Bond Ferguson, 34, described the harrowing encounter as a split-second decision driven by maternal instinct. The incident occurred just days after a truck transporting 32 rhesus macaques from a Texas biomedical research facility overturned on Interstate 20 near Vicksburg, freeing several of the primates into the surrounding woods. While most were recaptured within hours, at least one remained at large until Ferguson's confrontation.

From Highway Wreck to Home Invasion

The chaos began on October 27 when the transport vehicle, en route to a lab in Louisiana, flipped over during a multi-vehicle crash, scattering the sedated monkeys across a highway median. Wildlife officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) swiftly mobilized, recapturing 31 of the animals by the following day. But the last monkey evaded capture, prompting warnings to residents in Warren and Hinds counties to avoid contact and report sightings.

Ferguson, a stay-at-home mom living in nearby Bolton, was alerted to the danger by her 7-year-old son, who spotted the monkey – described as a medium-sized rhesus macaque with a distinctive shaved head from lab procedures – skulking near their chicken coop around 7 a.m. on November 2. "I heard weird noises like something was rummaging around, and then my boy comes running in yelling about a monkey," Ferguson recounted in an emotional interview with local media. Grabbing her husband's shotgun from a nearby cabinet, she stepped outside and fired a single shot when the animal lunged toward her 3-year-old daughter playing in the yard.

"I wasn't thinking about anything but my babies. It's my baby versus an animal – a dangerous animal that could have diseases or just attack," she said, her voice steady but eyes welling with tears. The monkey was killed instantly and later confirmed by authorities to be the missing primate from the crash.

Health Fears Fuel Quick Response

Ferguson's actions were amplified by circulating rumors on social media about the monkeys potentially carrying herpes B virus, a rare but deadly zoonotic disease transmissible through bites or scratches. While the CDC has stated that the animals were screened and posed low risk – with no human infections reported from similar incidents – the speculation spread rapidly in the tight-knit community, heightening panic.

"I'd seen the posts about them being lab monkeys, possibly sick or experimented on. With my little ones running around, I couldn't take the chance," Ferguson explained. She immediately called 911 after the shooting, and responding deputies from the Hinds County Sheriff's Office verified the kill and transported the body for necropsy to rule out any health hazards. Preliminary tests showed no signs of disease, but officials commended her for reporting the incident promptly.

Community Divided, Authorities Reassure

The story has sparked a mix of praise and debate online, with supporters hailing Ferguson as a "hero mom" for prioritizing family safety in a remote area where response times can stretch. "In the country, you're on your own sometimes – better safe than sorry," one neighbor posted on a local Facebook group. Others, including animal rights advocates, decried the shooting as unnecessary, arguing that non-lethal options like calling authorities should have been exhausted first.

Sheriff Tyree Jones addressed the concerns in a Monday press conference, emphasizing that while the monkey's death was tragic, it likely prevented broader risks. "Ms. Ferguson did what any parent would – protected her home. We're grateful no one was hurt, and this closes the chapter on the escape," he said. The CDC echoed this, noting that the transport company's protocols are under review to prevent future mishaps.

Ferguson, who has no prior legal issues, faces no charges, as Mississippi's stand-your-ground laws extend to property defense against perceived wildlife threats. She's since launched a GoFundMe to cover potential veterinary bills for her chickens, which the monkey had begun to harass before the shot was fired.

As the dust settles from the unusual ordeal, the episode underscores the unpredictable intersections of wildlife transport, rural life, and public health anxieties in America's heartland. For Ferguson, it's a story she'll tell for years – one that ends with her children safe, but a reminder of nature's wild unpredictability.