Sam Mazzola, Bear Owner, Dies Of Asphyxia During Sexual Role-Play, Says Pathologist

COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio — An Ohio pathologist says an exotic-animal keeper found dead in his waterbed was face down, tied with bondage restraints and had obstructions over his nose and mouth.

Dr. Frank P. Miller III at the Lorain County coroner's office tells The Associated Press on Tuesday that Sam Mazzola was asphyxiated in an apparent accident during sexual role-play. Miller says Mazzola had a sex toy in his mouth, wore a mask and was chained to the bed.

An employee found the 49-year-old Mazzola dead Sunday. The manner of his death is pending further investigation.

A bear owned by Mazzola killed an employee who opened its cage for feeding last year at the Mazzola home in Columbia Station, where wolves and tigers also were kept. Columbia Station is about 15 miles outside Cleveland.

Comments

[Peter Kosednar]

03:53 PM on 07/14/2011

Has the bear been detained as an investigative lead?

[Kalyca Acosta]

05:42 PM on 07/21/2011

I am sure the bear had higher standards....

[maxout22]

11:39 AM on 07/14/2011

In Lieu of flowers please send all donations to Appllo Adult Book & Video Center.

[Apocolypse12]

02:37 AM on 07/15/2011

LOL !

[pjlim]

09:33 AM on 07/14/2011

Karma....

[bettyjochs]

07:50 AM on 07/14/2011

In the classic words of Molly Ivens "you can't make this stuff up". You certainly can't. This has to be one of the most idiotic stories in recent years. Or even in recent centuries.

[Chad Wheeler]

06:42 PM on 07/14/2011

Well, do you remember the one where the preacher was found in full scuba gear and had died in the same way?

[deleweye]

02:12 AM on 07/14/2011

So should we conclude that there was some kind of connection between the bear's bad temper and the owner's kinkiness? (I really don't want to go any further with that thought.)

[sextonfan]

10:35 PM on 07/13/2011

I don't understand the need to embarrass his family thus. Why do we need to know this?

[humandecency]

03:18 PM on 07/15/2011

Mazzola was involved in a lot of weird things and this may have been more than just a creepy sex thing gone wrong. In a 2007 lawsuit against him, a former employee of his alleged he told him he had been involved in kidnapping and shot a woman in the head. In 2003 Mazzola and a former employee were with a woman at a party (Ramona Krotine) who was later found dead by being shot in the head. Theoretically the murder is unsolved. Mazzola tried to turn his employee into the police and admitted the police suspected Mazzola was involved. That was preceded by the annual sportsman's show in which Mazzola displayed his bears for photo shoots with people. His exhibitor's license was revoked years later after evidence of continued cruelty to animals. Then an employee was mauled by one of Mazzola's bears. Hopefully the truth about this man that is revealed will lead to lessons learned to restore human dignity and the humane treatment of animals too.

[pepper1311]

03:07 PM on 07/17/2011

Cause of death would be told to them anyway. Why would embarrass them?

[NeoConsAreFinished]

05:56 PM on 07/13/2011

Come on sicko's. Get your minds out of the gutter.
It was a purely platonic relationship between the bear and Sam.
They just shared a meal occasionally..

[RealityChezck]

05:43 PM on 07/13/2011

Hey Yogi, can we stop now ?

[Lady Nature]

05:07 PM on 07/13/2011

So was he murdered? Who tied him up and tied him down?

[NeoConsAreFinished]

05:57 PM on 07/13/2011

It would be a rush to judgement if you blame the bear.

[Kalyca Acosta]

05:40 PM on 07/21/2011

The bear is innocent !

[Vic22]

04:13 PM on 07/13/2011

Lets use logic people! If your mouth is gagged, your partner can't hear you say "pineapple"

[Michelle McAlister]

03:27 PM on 07/13/2011

What terrible journalism that this title made it past the editor's desk! Totally misleading and irrelevant. There are two separate stories here, too. Ridiculous writing.

[French Toast]

02:12 PM on 07/13/2011

That is the best headline I've ever read. It needed no catchy titling. Just the truth.

[giant nerd of doom]

01:50 AM on 07/14/2011

I agree. The most perfect sentence in the history of ever.

(So perfect that I felt no need to read the rest of the article. It couldn't possibly get any better.)

[elcerritan]

07:01 PM on 07/14/2011

And consequently you probably think the bear had something to do with it.

[Dragontech]

02:09 PM on 07/13/2011

Ah the old school "Yellow Journalism" is alive and well I see. Spread hype and puerile salacious crud that is neither news, nor what the headline makes it sound like, just to up sales. WHY would anyone care about this? Other than the American obsession with sex, especially if any deviancy can be played up, that is.

[choo-chew]

11:01 PM on 07/13/2011

I guess you answered your own question, which also explains why you clicked on the article in the first place. And you also cared enough about it to comment on it. So you helped increase web traffic and participation, aiding in convincing those who put this stuff on the web to put more of it on here.

[Dragontech]

05:29 PM on 07/15/2011

I was curious what part of bear-ownership had anything to do with it, especially as the link to it I followed claimed the bear had killed someone. Just shows the link was as big a scam as the article.

[very interested]

12:55 PM on 07/13/2011

Casey Anthony bloggers have the bear convicted and sentenced.

[TheSarge]

12:52 PM on 07/13/2011

"I make my living off the Evening News
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry

Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em all around