THE CURSE OF ‘TIGER KING"
CHARGES OF MURDER, MAYHEM & MADNESS DOG SHOW’S ALUMS
BIG cat docuseries “Tiger King” has turned into a curse for the eccentric characters it thrust into the limelight, an exclusive National ENQUIRER investigation has revealed. Several have been slapped with animal cruelty charges, one is rotting in jail, feds have shut down zoos featured on the show, and a murder investigation linked to it has been reopened! “As wild as the show was, since it aired a lot of people who appeared on it have found themselves in trouble after authorities closed in on them!” declared a TV insider.
In the biggest uproar, law enforcement is now investigating the mysterious disappearance — and possible murder — of series star and Big Cat Rescue CEO Carole Baskin’s missing husband.
Millionaire Don Lewis vanished in 1997, and his body has never been found. He was formally declared dead in 2002, and Carole has vigorously denied having any hand in his disappearance.
But “Tiger King” Joe Exotic — real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage — has accused Carole, his sworn rival, of killing Don and feeding him to tigers at the couple’s Florida sanctuary, another charge she’s repeatedly denied.
The big cat breeder — whose Oklahoma zoo was shuttered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in August — is now serving a 22-year federal prison sentence for animal abuse and a failed murder-for-hire plot to kill Carole!
After the series aired, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida was flooded with tips about Don’s disappearance.
The case was reopened and, as
The ENQUIRER reported, Sheriff Chad Chronister revealed two independent experts believe Don’s will was forged! Don’s family has also offered a $100,000 reward, which Carole has blasted as a “publicity stunt.”
Carole, who was recently booted off this season’s “Dancing with the Stars,” told The ENQUIRER she’s offered a $100,000
reward since Don vanished.
Others featured on the riveting truecrime series have been slapped with a litany of charges. Bhagavan “Doc” Antle — owner of the Myrtle Beach
Safari Company in South Carolina — faces two felony counts related to wildlife trafficking and 13 additional misdemeanors, according to the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia. Prosecutors allege Antle and Keith Wilson, who owns Wilson’s Wild Animal Park in Virginia, trafficked lion cubs between the two states.
Wilson was also charged with two felonies related to wildlife trafficking and 17 other misdemeanor charges, which he has denied.
In yet another twist, a former employee has accused Antle of mistreatment! Barbara Fisher charged the pony-tailed entrepreneur, 60, made her work grueling 17-hour shifts for $100 a week, sleep in a horse stall crawling with cockroaches and bullied her into getting a boob job.
Antle called Barbara a “disgruntled employee” and told The ENQUIRER: “I categorically deny any act or conduct that could ever be considered as ‘animal cruelty.’ I look forward to being able to answer the charges against me and clear my good name.”
Charges have also been leveled against Timothy Stark, 55, owner of the Wildlife in Need roadside zoo in Indiana. He was arrested Oct. 10 in New York after going on the run from authorities.
He’s accused of hiding animals from inspectors and faces both a felony and misdemeanor charge for allegedly threatening an official searching his zoo. Stark has denied the charges. In a statement, Wildlife in Need said: “There has yet to be a conviction, a trial or proof of any allegations yet [Timothy] continues to be treated as guilty until proven innocent.”