Details emerge in the death of Libertarian candidate’s husband

PAULS VALLEY — The husband of an Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate held a gun to his head and told others with him it would not fire before he pulled the trigger and killed himself, Garvin County Sheriff Larry Rhodes said.

Travis Maldonado, 23, was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head at the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park on Friday in an apparent self-inflicted gun accident, Rhodes said. His husband, Joseph Maldonado, known as “Joe Exotic,” was not present at the time of his death, Rhodes said.

Travis Maldonado had a marijuanasmoking pipe in his pants pocket and a small amount of marijuana on him when he apparently shot himself in the head.

Witnesses told sheriff’s detectives that Travis Maldonado took the magazine out of a gun and held the barrel to his head. He knew there was a bullet in the chamber, but Travis Maldonado said it would not fire without the magazine. He then squeezed the trigger, Rhodes said. The gun fired.

Rhodes said the official cause and manner of his death will have to be determined by the state medical examiner’s office.

“We’re nearing the end of our investigation,” Rhodes said.

Joseph Maldonado is a Libertarian Party candidate for governor, self-described actor and musician known as “Joe Exotic” who operates the Wynnewood zoo.

The Oklahoma Libertarian Party announced Joseph Maldonado’s candidacy in May. Gov. Mary Fallin is term-limited, and her seat is open for the 2018 election.