Editor’s note: A new Netflix documentary series, “Tiger King,” covers the dark world of private zoos and exotic animal breeding, including an unbelievable murder-for-hire plot that The Post covered. The series is available now on Netflix, and sheds new light on the rivalry between big-cat eccentrics. The following is an excerpt from a Post article from 2018, republished in cooperation with Netflix.
Zookeeper accused in murder-for-hire plot also accused of killing tigers, selling cubs
By Associated Press
Published: November 8, 2018
OKLAHOMA CITY — A former Oklahoma zookeeper and candidate for governor already accused in a murder-for-hire plot has been indicted on 19 new counts accusing him of killing tigers and selling tiger cubs.
A federal grand jury unsealed the charges Wednesday against 55-year-old Joseph Maldonado-Passage, who’s known as “Joe Exotic” and formerly operated a zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. Maldonado-Passage ran unsuccessfully for Oklahoma governor this year.
Maldonado-Passage was indicted in September for allegedly trying to hire someone to kill the operator of a Florida-based animal sanctuary. He’s pleaded not guilty.
The new charges accuse him of killing five tigers in October 2017 and selling and offering to sell tiger cubs in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
His attorney, William P. Earley, didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.
