In a striking jailhouse interview with NBC’s News Channel 8, Joe Exotic, famously known as the 'Tiger King', vehemently expressed his desire for a new trial and continued to defend himself against substantial allegations.
Mail Online reported that, throughout the interview, Exotic discussed his ongoing legal battles, health issues, and intense rivalry with Carole Baskin, connecting with his audience from a Florida Panhandle prison.
Joe Exotic, 55, is currently serving a 21-year sentence for a murder-for-hire plot against Carole Baskin, his long-standing adversary and another prominent figure in the exotic animal world. He revealed a strong discontent with his current incarceration conditions and continued to pitch his innocence regarding the murder-for-hire accusations. During the interview, he leveled grave accusations at Baskin, suggesting she was involved in the unsolved disappearance of her second husband, Don Lewis, in 1997, even alleging she might have fed him to her tigers.
Lewis's disappearance became a headline-grabber when he vanished in August 1997, only to be declared legally dead in 2002 without his body ever being found. Baskin quickly gained control over his $5 million estate after producing critical documents, including Lewis's will and power of attorney, shortly after his disappearance.
Despite his conviction, Joe Exotic remains adamant about his innocence concerning the attempted murder charge. "In my trial, they showed the undercover video and Joe never offered him anything," Exotic claimed, referring to the lack of direct evidence that he hired anyone to kill Baskin. His frustrations peaked in a 2021 appeal, which failed to overturn his conviction; instead, it led to a minor reduction in his sentence by one year. Throughout the legal turmoil, Exotic has repeatedly expressed a fervent hope for a presidential pardon and a completely new trial to overturn his conviction.
While addressing his current life behind bars, Exotic revealed that he is battling significant health issues, including prostate and possibly lung cancer. His health battles have added a layer of urgency to his appeals and desire for liberation from prison. Remarkably, amid his continuing legal and health struggles, Exotic has even announced a run for presidential office as a Democrat, showcasing his unyielding determination and flamboyant persona.
Notwithstanding the legal battles, the feud between Exotic and Baskin has proven mutually profitable, as confirmed by Exotic himself. "But me and Carol, me and Carol made money off of each other for years," he admitted, pointing to the strange symbiosis that their rivalry nurtured. Parallelly, Carole Baskin, alongside her current husband Howard, continues to advance their cause, promoting the 'Big Cat Rescue Public Safety Act' in Congress following the sale of their 'Big Cat Rescue' property.
Howard Baskin, Carole’s third husband, shared insights for the first time regarding their activism against roadside petting zoos, which he described as "a horrible industry." Their ongoing activism underscores a deep commitment to animal welfare and safety, issues central to the narrative that became a cultural phenomenon through the Netflix series "Tiger King."
In conclusion, Joe Exotic's interview shed light on his unrelenting quest for a new trial, his deteriorating health, and his direct accusations against Carole Baskin. This high-profile feud continues to captivate public interest, illustrating the complex intersection of legal battles, personal vendettas, and the ethics of animal conservation. As Exotic navigates his legal and health challenges, the broader implications of his case reverberate throughout the worlds of law, media, and animal advocacy.
