“I’m troubled by both the allegations and the lack of transparency here, and this office will get to the bottom of it,” Yost said in a statement Thursday.
The people of central Ohio deserve to know the details. They have supported the zoo financially and otherwise since its beginning 95 years ago.
Columbus City Council adopted a resolution in November 1926 requesting that the state develop a 21-acre game refuge on lands east of the Scioto River in southern Delaware County. The first animals – reindeer donated by The Dispatch – went on display on Oct. 4, 1927.
The zoo,, a nonprofit organization, received $19 million of its $92 million budget from Franklin County taxpayers, thanks to a levy. It might not be required legally to turn over documents, but for the sake of transparency and public trust, it should release details of its investigation into the personal use of zoo resources by Stalf and Bell.
Columbus Zoo being investigated
By JULIE CARR SMYTH - Associated Press
Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, right, Betty White, actress and longtime animal advocate, center, and Tom Stalf, then President and CEO of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, left, are shown at the grand opening May 22, 2014, of the Heart of Africa exhibit at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost placed the zoo under investigation Thursday after a newspaper reported misuse of assets by two top executives who later resigned.
COLUMBUS Ohio’s top law enforcer placed one of the nation’s largest zoos under investigation Thursday after a newspaper reported misuse of assets by two top executives who later resigned.
The Associated Press
This file photo from May 22, 2014, shows Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, right, Betty White, actress and longtime animal advocate, center, and Tom Stalf, then President and CEO of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, left, at the grand opening of the Heart of Africa exhibit at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost placed the zoo under investigation Thursday, April 1, 2021 after a newspaper reported misuse of assets by two top executives who later resigned. (Jonathan Quilter/The Columbus Dispatch via AP, File)
COLUMBUS Ohio’s top law enforcer placed one of the nation’s largest zoos under investigation Thursday after a newspaper reported misuse of assets by two top executives who later resigned.
Columbus Zoo executives under investigation
Justin Boggs
and last updated 2021-04-01 22:26:56-04
The Ohio Attorney General announced Thursday an investigation into the use of zoo assets by two executives of the Columbus Zoo, one of the nationâs largest zoos.
Ohio AG David Yost said the investigation was instigated following a report by the Columbus Dispatch alleging that CEO Tom Stalf and former CFO Greg Bell used zoo assets for personal reasons.
The Dispatch said that Stalf and Bell âallowed relatives to live in houses owned or controlled by the zoo, and sought zoo tickets for their family members to attend various entertainment events.â
Ohio AG to probe allegations against Columbus Zoo ex-execs wfmj.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wfmj.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.