A gay zookeeper from Oklahoma was indicted for allegedly trying to have an animal rights activist killed in a murder-for-hire plot.
55-year-old Joseph Maldonado-Passage, who is perhaps better known as the moniker “Joe Exotic,” works at the Wynnewood Zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. He’s also a vlogger, country music artist, and aspiring politician.
His alleged intended victim is 57-year-old Carole Baskin, who owns and operates a large cat animal rescue in Tampa, Florida.
On Friday, the Justice Department announced that Maldonado-Passage had been indicted by a grand jury on two counts of hiring a person to commit murder.
Apparently, he and Baskin clashed for years over his treatment of large cats. In July 2016, Maldonado-Passage offered a hitman $3,000 to travel from Oklahoma to Florida to murder Baskin.
The hitman made the journey down to Florida, but the scheme didn’t go as planned and, the U.S. Department of Justice says, “Jane Doe did not suffer any physical harm.”
Then in November 2017, Maldonado-Passage tried again. He set out to find another hitman. Unfortunately for him, instead of locating a legit murderer, he connected with an undercover FBI agent, and his plot was foiled.
“He’s been threatening me for many, many years,” Baskin tells The Oklahoman.
In 2016, Maldonado-Passage launched a bid for president. In his campaign video, he said: “I’m gay. I’ve had two boyfriends most of my life. … I’ve had some kinky sex. I’ve tried drugs through the younger years of my life. I’m broke as sh*t.”
He also added, The outspoken zookeeper also added, “I have a judgement against me from some bitch down in Florida.”
It’s unclear whether he was referring to Baskin.
Maldonado-Passage was arrested in Gulf Breeze, Florida on Friday. He now faces up to 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Hussain-TheCanadian
Ok someone needs to say this……………………What the f*ck is going on in Oklahoma?
Raymundo
That’s what I’m saying
Mr-DJ
What a pathetic loser!
(BTW – What is a “Gay” Zookeeper, especially since this event has nothing to do with his personal life? Not valid unless you also include “Straight” for everyone who is NOT Gay – in your headlines.)
startenout
And if they didn’t say he was a gay zookeeper, y’all would be complaining about “what does this have to do with gay people?” Damn, Queerty can never get it right for you people.
dinard38
@Startenout. That is sooooo true!!!!!
Bryguyf69
It’s relevant because Queerty would otherwise not have had any reason to publish this story. And it’s important for the LGBT community to know these negative stories because they are used by homophobes to discredit gays. Indeed, being gay is already part of his public image. In his presidential campaign video, he said: “I’m gay. I’ve had two boyfriends most of my life. … I’ve had some kinky sex. I’ve tried drugs through the younger years of my life. I’m broke as sh*t.”
Lacuevaman
startenout: I agree. the audience is so fickle. queerty is doing nothing to help forward human rights….
Vince
His first red flag something wasn’t up was a stranger being a-ok with killing someone for only $3,000. Then again I’m not exactly up on the hired hit man pay scale these days.
startenout
Things are cheaper in Oklahoma lol
Bryguyf69
Whew… from the title, I thought that the gay zookeeper was Carson Jones, the only gay zookeeper I know. Jones became a gay sensation after his father beat Roy Moore for the Alabama Senate seat. The side-eye he gave to Vice-President Pence went viral. Go below for a great video profile and interview of Jones. There is both a video and a podcast. It was the first time I heard him speak. Sexy…
https://www.sunherald.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article216476510.html