The legal case surrounding the Natural Bridge Zoo took another turn Wednesday in Rockbridge County Circuit Court. Zoo owner, Gretchen “Sasha” Mogensen, was found guilty of contempt of court for failing to allow state investigators access to her property on three separate occasions in April.

10 News has learned that one of the four giraffes seized from the Natural Bridge Zoo died while being transported to Georgia in May, prompting a criminal investigation into the circumstances of its death, according to Cardinal News.

Natural Bridge Zoo owners Sasha “Gretchen” Mogensen and Karl Mogensen were in a Rockbridge County Courtroom Wednesday, where they were both found guilty of contempt of court.

When state officials inspected the zoo’s giraffes back in April, they made a shocking discovery: two of the giraffes which had previously been pregnant had given birth. Their calves were nowhere in sight. In fact, the births were so recent, one giraffe still had afterbirth on its tail, according to court records.

Authorities seized a third giraffe from the Natural Bridge Zoo just after 9:45 a.m. Thursday. This all according to a livestream by the zoo of the capture.

A lengthy legal battle over the future of animals currently housed at the Natural Bridge Zoo hit a new front Tuesday, as authorities seized one of the zoo’s giraffes after failing to do so on Monday.

Natural Bridge Zoo livestreamed Monday’s seizure on it’s Facebook page as staff said the Attorney General's Animal Law Unit arrived to remove a giraffe.

Natural Bridge Zoo’s former owners will appear in court on Monday afternoon for continued post-trial motions, following a decision in March that found the state was justified in seizing 71 of the 100 animals they took during a search last December.

The Natural Bridge Zoo has announced that it is now under new ownership and management.

Natural Bridge Zoo appeared in court on Thursday for post-trial motions, after a decision in March that found that the state was justified in seizing 71 of the 100 animals they took during a search last December.

A jury has decided the state was justified in seizing 71 out of 100 animals they took during a search at Natural Bridge Zoo last December.

On Day 5 of the Natural Bridge Zoo case, the defense called their first witnesses.

10 News is back in the courtroom for day four of the jury trial for the Natural Bridge Zoo.

On Wednesday, we heard from more of the state’s vets who recommended the seizure of the almost 100 animals in December.

Day two of Natural Bridge Zoo’s jury trial is underway after the state raided the zoo and seized nearly 100 animals in December.

The trial to determine the fate of the animals seized from Natural Bridge Zoo began on Monday with jury selection.

The Natural Bridge Zoo appeared in court on Wednesday, as both the zoo and state are appealing a judge’s ruling that only a little over half of about 100 animals seized from the zoo during a raid by the state in December was justified.

The Lexington-Rockbridge General District Court made a ruling Thursday on the unresolved opinions and appeals in the Natural Bridge Zoo case.

Some of the animals seized from the Natural Bridge Zoo will have new homes after they were subjected to cruelty and inadequate care, according to a finding by the Lexington-Rockbridge District Court on Friday.

A decision on whether the seizure of animals at Natural Bridge Zoo was justified could be made by a judge next week, meanwhile, the lead attorney on the case is questioning the credibility of the state’s Animal Law Unit.

A judge will soon decide whether or not Natural Bridge Zoo will get back nearly 100 animals seized by the state.

A decision in whether or not the state’s seizure of nearly 100 animals from Natural Bridge Zoo is justified could be made by the middle of next week.

The Attorney General’s office rested its case in Natural Bridge Zoo’s animal seizure hearing on Tuesday, but the defense will have a chance to call witnesses on Wednesday.

The Natural Bridge Zoo case court hearing has been postponed to Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 1 p.m., due to the defense attorney being sick with COVID-19.

Natural Bridge Zoo owners appeared in court for the first time following an investigative search that resulted in the seizure of just under 100 animals about two weeks ago.

A federal judge has denied an injunction filed by the owners of Natural Bridge Zoo, and they are still set to appear in Rockbridge County court on Wednesday.

The fate of Natural Bridge Zoo is still up in the air, as the zoo is set to face a seizure hearing on Wednesday, but the zoo’s attorney has filed for an injunction. A federal judge heard the argument on Monday but still hasn’t made a decision about whether court will go on on Wednesday.

A status conference has been set for Dec. 18 in federal court, after Natural Bridge Zoo attorney Mario Williams filed for an injunction, and new court documents detail more on zoo animals living environments.

The lawyer of the Natural Bridge Zoo owners has filed an injunction in an effort to delay their court hearing.

Hear what community members have to say about the raid at Natural Bridge Zoo.

10 News was able to obtain court documents Friday about the search at the Natural Bridge Zoo.

Gretchen Mogensen with the Natural Bridge Zoo was there when the search warrant was executed and when Zeus the tiger was put down.

Gretchen Mogensen with the Natural Bridge Zoo shared photos of Zeus the tiger prior to the euthanization.

A tiger at the Natural Bridge Zoo was euthanized during state police’s search, according to Attorney Mario Williams.

On day two of the search at Natural Bridge Zoo, crates were taken from the zoo and local organizations were spotted assisting.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund focuses on protecting the lives of animals using the legal system.

According to Virginia State Police, the search at the Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County has come to an end.