‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic To Be Resentenced In Murder-For-Hire Plot Against Carole Baskin

Could the Tiger King be set free following a ruling from a federal appellate court?

July 23, 2021

Photo of self-proclaimed "Tiger King" Joe Exotic [via AP Images]

Photo of self-proclaimed "Tiger King" Joe Exotic [via AP Images]

Joseph Maldonado-Passage, known as Joe Exotic or the “Tiger King,” was convicted in late 2019 and sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot.

The alleged target of his ire? A rival tiger sanctuary owner named Carole Baskin who operates an exotic animal park in Florida.

A federal court has ruled that Maldonado-Passage’s sentence must be reconsidered because the trial court miscalculated the appropriate amount of time he should serve behind bars.

The new sentence, when announced, could shave as much as five years off his time in prison.

Prior to his arrest, Maldonado-Passage was the owner of Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma where he cared for and bred various species of big cats, including tigers.

What sent Joe Exotic down the path of depravity, polygamy, live animal collecting and trading and ultimately, conspiracy to commit murder?

To catch up on the backstory of the self-proclaimed Tiger King, start streaming Joe Exotic: Before He Was King on discovery+ now.

The comprehensive, one-hour special examines the childhood traumas and dramatic events that help put the entire sordid story in context.

Next Up

Remembering Selena: ‘She Was Just An Amazing Soul’

The iconic musician was shot and killed by the president of her fan club almost three decades ago.

Rapper Blueface Arrested For Attempted Murder

The 25-year-old was arrested in Las Vegas on Nov. 15 in regards to an October incident.

Trials Loom For Defendants Suspected Of Rapper Young Dolph’s Pre-Thanksgiving Murder

The entertainer and businessman was gunned down in November 2021 while buying cookies at a Memphis bakery.

Who Was Notorious Jewel Thief Jack “Murph The Surf” Murphy?

Not all of the details Murphy shared about his life can be verified, but what we know to be true is a fascinating tale about a daytime surfer who moonlighted as a high-end thief.

Migos Rapper Takeoff Dead After Houston Shooting

In the early morning hours of Nov. 1, 2022, the 28-year-old rapper was shot and killed outside a bowling alley in Texas.

True Crime News Roundup: Missing California Woman Found Dead In Remote Woods, Ex-Husband Arrested

Plus: Four University of Idaho students brutally murdered; Pregnant Florida mom found shot; Gabby Petito’s family awarded $3 million in lawsuit; Parents of boy found dead in washing machine charged with his murder.

'Happy Face Killer': How Keith Jesperson’s Daughter Discovered His Deadly Secret

“There was just something ‘off’ about him,” Melissa Moore says of the serial killer.

OnlyFans Model Courtney Clenney Arrested For Murder Of Boyfriend

On April 3, 2022, Christian Obumseli, 27, was stabbed to death in his apartment. Police initially believed his girlfriend acted in self-defense but she has since been charged with his murder.

5 Key Facts About The Jessica Chambers Murder Case

Jessica Chambers suffered an agonizing death: Firefighters saw her walking toward them, wearing only her underwear & burned over 93 percent of her body.

Tupac Shakur’s Stepfather To Be Freed From Prison After More Than 35 Years

Mutulu Shakur, 72, will be released on parole on Dec. 16, 2022.