Community Mourns Loss Of Hope Elephants Founder Dr. James Laurita

HOPE, Maine - The community is mourning the loss of the Hope Elephants founder Dr. James Laurita who died this morning while tending to the elephants in their corral. He died from asphyxiation according to the Maine medical examiner, The examiner found the injuries are consistent while Dr. Laurita was on the ground from a fall that one of the elephants accidentally stepped on him causing internal injuries with multiple fractures and ultimately causing asphyxia.  Dr. Flomenbaum has declared this an accidental death.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 7:12 this morning to respond to 43 Hatchet Mountain Rd. in Hope for an unresponsive male in the barn.  Prior to Deputies arrival, paramedics from Northeast Ambulance arrived.  It was discovered that Dr. James Laurita, 56, of Hope was deceased.  Dr. Laurita was the Founder of Hope Elephants.  For an unknown reason, while routinely tending to the elephants, Dr. Laurita had fallen in the corral and struck his head on the cement floor.

Hope Elephants remarks on Dr. James Laurita death. Hope Elephants is deeply saddened by the loss