Netflix’s ‘Tiger King’: Is Joe Exotic ‘Missing In Prison’?

John M. Phillips is the lawyer of Joseph A. Maldonado, more popularly known as Joe Exotic, the Tiger King. Recently, Phillips made a point of heading to Facebook and Twitter to let his followers know that his client has “gone missing.”

Joe Exotic the Tiger King missing in prison?

According to civil lawyer John M. Phillips, his high-profile client, Joseph A. Maldonado AKA Joe Exotic has gone missing. Meanwhile, the lawyer needed to speak to his client relating to an upcoming hearing for his re-sentencing. However, on arrival at Butner Federal Medical Center in North Carolina – where Joe is being held – his client apparently wasn’t there.

Moreover, the civil lawyer needed to consult the infamous zookeeper, who is serving 22 years for a plot to murder Big Cat Rescue founder Carol Baskin. In fact, it was important that he speak to Joe Exotic ahead of his resentencing hearing in Oklahoma City this Friday.

Where is Joseph A. Maldonado?

Phillips headed to Facebook and Twitter on January 23 to announce the mystery. He wrote, “Good grief, the United States Department of Justice, US Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, where is Joseph A. Maldonado?”

Joe’s lawyer went on to write that his legal calls were rejected on Friday and on Monday. Moreover, he added that opposing counsel won’t respond to him. Reportedly, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBP) told Phillips they won’t tell him when or where Maldonado is being moved.

Why is Carole so worried I’m gonna get my early release? Has she not seen the new evidence in my case? She should know by now that I never intended on harming her. The truth is out there. pic.twitter.com/lCgKYScRDw

— Joe Exotic (@joe_exotic) January 25, 2022

In his post, Maldonado’s lawyer directly addressed the “FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation. He wrote that they have a hearing, and asked where his client was. Phillips said they need to add some prison misconduct lawyers to the legal team. He noted the following misconduct – constant solitary confinement, mail issues, “deprived counsel,” asking what they have to hide.

Among the many comments, one follower told him to be careful as the law could be monitoring their conversations in the prison. In his response, Phillips noted that he knows more than he is saying in the post. However, he wanted to publicly explain just how bad it is. Meanwhile, the lawyer stated that he should know when and where he can meet with his client and when and where he is transferred.

In a later comment, Phillips was asked if he had eventually found Joe Exotic. His cryptic reply was, “Sort of.”

About Tiger King and Joe Exotic

Netflix and Tiger King fans recently got to watch Season 2 of Joe’s story, titled Tiger King 2, on Netflix. This second season covered the aftermath of Joe’s arrest and imprisonment. In fact, it went on to delve further into the theories surrounding the disappearance of Don Lewis.
Meanwhile, other big cat collectors also appeared in Season 2 of Tiger King including Tim Stark and Jeff Lowe.

As noted by the Daily Star, fans of the show were surprised to see a third season drop on Netflix in December. Season 3 is titled Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story and covers Joe’s rival, Mahamayavi Bhagavan, AKA Doc Antle.