Knox County Sheriff deputies say they found 56-year-old James Laurita unresponsive on Tuesday morning. Police say Laurita appeared to have fallen and struck his head on a cement floor. A medical examiner will determine his cause of death.

Laurita founded Hope Elephants with his brother in 2011. The elephants — named Rosie and Opal — arrived in 2012.

Laurita was a veterinarian who also worked with circus animals. Tending to the animals was part of his daily routine at the facility.

The Hope Elephants facility is about seven miles northwest of Camden.

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Hope, hope elephants, jim laurita
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