He lived like a human for 14 years - until he went berserk and mauled his owner's friend.
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© Kathleen O'Rourke/APTravis the chimp went berserk in 2009, mauling his owner’s friend, Charla Nash.
Travis the chimp suppressed his bloodthirsty nature for 14 years before going on his vicious rampage that left his owner's friend severely disfigured.

It was a bloodbath.

Raised by Sandy Herold in Stamford, Conn., essentially from birth, Travis was thought to have been fully socialized and not pose a threat to his human masters who regarded him as one of the family.

The tremendously powerful primate could open doors using keys, ate at the dinner table with a glass of wine and adored ice cream. He was a big fan of baseball, could drive a car, enjoyed painting and even took baths with Herold.

But on Feb. 16, 2009, Travis snapped.

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© HandoutCharla Nash with Travis the chimpanzee chimp in Stamford, Conn., during happier times.
Travis had left Herold's home when Charla Nash - a familiar family friend - arrived to help corral the beast.

The moment Nash arrived, Travis attacked.

He mauled her, ripping off her hands, nose, lips and eyelids.

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© STTravis the 10-year-old chimpanzee picture with his owner Sandra Herold in 2002.
Herold plunged a butcher knife into Travis' back three times, but the crazed animal continued his carnage.

Herold later said it was like stabbing her own son.

She then called 911 - Travis' wild shrieks could be heard in the background.

A cop at last shot Travis after the beast ripped open the door of the police cruiser and flashed his blood-covered fangs.

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© Kathleen O'Rourke/AP Travis the chimp stalled traffic in downtown Stamford in 2003 after leaping out his owners’ SUV.
The mayhem was over, but Nash's agony was just beginning.

She underwent numerous reconstructive surgeries and received a face transplant. She is blind.

Investigators speculated that it was a dose of Xanax that made Travis' behavior change so suddenly. They also wondered if Nash's new hairdo made Travis think she was an intruder.

In June of last year, the state of Connecticut denied Nash the right to sue the state for $150 million because it had not seized Travis despite prior warning signs.

In 2012 Nash reached a $4 million settlement with the estate of Herold, who died two years prior.