TAMPA, Fla. - The sheriff of Hillsborough County is taking advantage of the popularity around Netflix's new documentary, "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness," and asking for any tips that can lead to information on what happened to the husband of Big Cat Rescue's CEO.
The seven-episode true crime series dives into the world of big cat owners. An entire episode is dedicated to the circumstances involving the disappearance of Carole Baskin's husband, Jack "Don" Lewis.
In a tweet, Sheriff Chad Chronister wrote, "Since Netflix and COVID-19 quarantine has made Tiger King all the rage, I figured it was a good time to ask for new leads."
The sheriff shared an image showing a photo of Lewis. If alive, he would be 81 years old. He was last seen on August 18, 1997.
“Don was not easy to live with and like most couples we had our moments,” Baskin said in a recent statement. “But I never threatened him and I certainly had nothing to do with his disappearance. When he disappeared, I did everything I could to assist the police.”
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From 1997: Investigation underway after Don Lewis disappears
This Warren Elly report originally aired in August of 1997, one week after Wildlife on Easy Street sanctuary founder Don Lewis vanished. He was never seen again.
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In the documentary, one theory implied that Lewis' body was fed to the tigers. It's a theory that Baskin recently disputed.
Joseph Maldonado-Passage, aka Joe Exotic (SRCSO photo)
One of her biggest rivals, Joseph Maldonado-Passage, who goes by "Joe Exotic," was found guilty in trying to hire a hitman to kill her. He was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison, but recently filed a federal lawsuit against those involved in his case.
Anyone with information about Lewis' disappearance is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.