The family of “Tiger King” subject Carole Baskin’s first husband, who mysteriously disappeared in 1997, offers $ 100,000 in exchange for information about what happened.
Attorney John Phillips held a news conference in Tampa, Fla. On Monday, and announced an independent investigation into the disappearance of Jack “Don” Lewis. He also said that on behalf of the Lewis family he had filed a case against Baskin in an attempt to deposit her and get her to speak on the record. He and his family also paid for Tampa area billboards to request information in the case.
Lewis’ case, and Baskin, were featured in the popular Netflix documentary series “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.” The show follows Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as “Joe Exotic,” an eccentric former Oklahoma sweetheart who loves big cats.
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Earlier this year, Maldonado-Passage was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in a plot for murder-for-hire. He was convicted of attempting to hire someone to kill Baskin, who had tried to shut him down, accusing the Oklahoma Zoo of abusing animals and selling large cat cubs.
Subject ‘Tiger King’ Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, previously accused Carole Baskin of murdering her ex-husband.
(Netflix)
In return, Maldonado-Passage asked questions about Baskin’s ex-husband. The documentary extensively dealt with the repeated allegations of Maldonado-Passage that Baskin murdered her husband and possibly gave him to her tigers. Baskin has not been charged with any crime and has released statements several times making the allegations in the series.
Lewis disappeared a day before a planned trip to Costa Rica and was never found. He was legally pronounced dead in 2002. He and Baskin started the animal center, which later became Big Cat Rescue Corp. was in Tampa.
Three of Lewis’ daughters were at the news conference. Lewis’ youngest daughter, Gale Rathbone, expressed gratitude to anyone interested in the case.
‘Unfortunately, our little family tragedy has become your tragedy. Our quest for closure and truth has also become your mission, ‘she said. ‘We all know now that (Lewis) was not a perfect man. But deserve only the perfect under our righteousness? ”
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In an email sent to the Associated Press on Monday, Baskin said she would not comment. “It has been my policy not to wait on waiver of judicial elections until it is resolved,” she wrote. “I had told some news reports that I thought the press conference on August 10 was just a publicity stunt, but at the time was unaware it would be in conversation.”
Carole Baskin, founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue, is the subject of a new lawsuit related to the disappearance of her ex-husband.
(Netflix)
Baskin is still the owner of Big Cat Rescue, and lobbies for abolishing privately owned wildlife.
Maldonaldo-Passage is currently in jail. A federal judge handed over control of the Oklahoma Zoo previously run by Maldonado Passage to Big Cat Rescue Corp. in June.
Baskin previously sued Maldonado-Passage for trademark and copyright infringement and won a $ 1 million civil lawsuit against him. The judge found that ownership of the zoo was fraudulently transferred to Maldonado-Passage’s mother in an attempt to pay the verdict.
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In March, the Hillsborough County sheriff asked for tips in Lewis ‘case and announced a reopening of Lewis’ case.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
