Jury deliberates fate of ex-Oklahoma zookeeper 'Joe Exotic'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - This file photo provided by the Santa Rose County Jail in Milton, Fla., shows Joseph Maldonado-Passage. Prosecutors say Maldonado-Passage, also known as "Joe Exotic, tried to arrange the killing of Carole Baskin, the founder of Big Cat Rescue. Lurors were shown a Facebook video Tuesday, March 26, 2019, that depicts Maldonado-Passage shooting a blow-up "Carole" doll in the head. Other videos show him pretending to dig a grave for Baskin and threatening to mail her rattlesnakes. (Santa Rosa County Jail via AP, File)
A jury is deliberating a verdict in the federal trial of an ex-Oklahoma zookeeper and former candidate for governor accused in an attempted murder-for-hire plot.
Jurors began deliberating Tuesday in the trial of 56-year-old Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, who's accused of trying to arrange the killing of Carole Baskin , founder of a Florida animal sanctuary who criticized his treatment of animals. Baskin wasn't harmed.
He's also accused of killing five tigers in October 2017 and selling and offering to sell tiger cubs.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Maldonado-Passage, known as "Joe Exotic," has pleaded not guilty and testified Monday that although disagreements with Baskin spilled over into his social media posts, he never wanted her dead.
Maldonado-Passage used to operate a zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. He ran unsuccessfully for Oklahoma governor last year as a Libertarian.