The Mysterious Disappearance of Joe Exotic\’s Third Husband, Travis Maldonado: A Look into the Intriguing Details
The story of Joe Exotic has captured the attention of millions due to the Netflix series “Tiger King.” Once the owner of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma, Exotic has become a household name for his eccentric personality, his multiple marriages, and his intense rivalry with animal rights activist Carole Baskin.
However, one of the most intriguing aspects of Joe Exotic’s life is the mysterious disappearance of his third husband, Travis Maldonado. Maldonado vanished on October 6, 2017, under unclear circumstances, leaving many questions unanswered.
The Relationship between Joe Exotic and Travis Maldonado
Travis Maldonado was only 23 years old when he married Joe Exotic in 2014. According to Joe’s own account, he met Travis at a club in Texas and convinced him to come work at the zoo. Supposedly, the two hit it off immediately and started dating soon after. Just two months after marrying Joe Exotic, Travis married John Finlay, another employee of the zoo, in a three-way wedding ceremony. The event was captured on video and went viral on social media.
By all accounts, Travis was a fun-loving and adventurous young man, known for his fondness for firearms and drugs. His carefree attitude and willingness to try anything once made him a fan favorite among the visitors to the zoo. However, his behavior was also problematic, as he was known for taking dangerous risks and often drove recklessly. On the day of his disappearance, he was said to have been playing with a loaded gun, which ultimately led to his tragic end.
The Circumstances Surrounding Travis Maldonado’s Disappearance
The details of what happened on October 6, 2017, are hazy, but the official statement from the Garvin County Sheriff’s Office indicates that Travis shot himself in the head in what was ruled an accident. According to Joe Exotic, he was not present when the shooting occurred, but he did hear the gunshot and rushed to find Travis lying on the ground. Grief-stricken, Joe claims to have contemplated suicide himself but was talked out of it by his friend, businessman Jeff Lowe.
Despite the initial ruling of suicide, there are many who disagree with this conclusion. The circumstances surrounding Travis’s deathare highly suspicious, and there are several factors that suggest foul play.
For one, the sharpshooter was known for his affinity for firearms and spending plenty of time at the gun range. He had a reputation for being a skilled marksman, which begs the question of how an accident like the one that killed him could have occurred. Additionally, Travis was reportedly deeply in love with Joe Exotic, and there is no indication that he had given any indication of being suicidal.
Another aspect that raised eyebrows was Joe Exotic’s behavior after Travis’s death. Instead of displaying the typical signs of grief, Joe was seen partying and taking part in interviews just days after the tragic incident. In one interview with “Inside Edition,” he even admitted to being in a ‘dream world’ and stated, “I can’t be sad, it’s just not in me.”
The Role of Joe Exotic and Jeff Lowe
Furthermore, Joe’s alleged involvement in the disappearance of Carole Baskin’s husband, Don Lewis, raises suspicion about his involvement in Travis’s death as well. Many have speculated that Joe may have been motivated to get rid of Travis because he knew too much about Don’s disappearance. In fact, Travis was reportedly the last person to see Don Lewis, as he was present when Lewis flew to Costa Rica in 1997, never to be seen again.
There are also rumors surrounding Jeff Lowe’s involvement in Travis’s death. Lowe was a friend of Joe Exotic and became involved with the zoo shortly before Travis’s death. He eventually took over ownership of the zoo after Joe’s legal troubles landed him in prison. Many believe that Lowe was motivated to get rid of Travis so that he could take control of the zoo.
The Investigation and the Search for Truth
Despite the many questions surrounding Travis’s death, there has been little to no progress in the investigation. The Garvin County Sheriff’s Office has stood by their ruling of accidental suicide and has not pursued the case any further. Joe Exotic is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for attempting to hire a hitman to kill Carole Baskin.
In conclusion, the mysterious disappearance of Joe Exotic’s third husband, Travis Maldonado, remains one of the most intriguing and troubling aspects of the Tiger King’s story. The unresolved questions surrounding Travis’s death leave plenty of room for speculation and raise suspicion about the motivations of those involved, including Joe Exotic and Jeff Lowe. Until more information is uncovered, we may never know the truth behind what really happened to Travis Maldonado on that fateful day in October 2017.
————————————