Jurors See Videos In ‘Joe Exotic’ Murder-For-Hire Trial

Jurors have been shown videos shared by an Oklahoma zookeeper and former gubernatorial candidate accused of trying to hire someone to kill the operator of a Florida animal sanctuary.

Prosecutors say Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as “Joe Exotic,” tried to arrange the killing of Carole Baskin, the founder of Big Cat Rescue. He’s on trial in Oklahoma City.

Jurors saw a Facebook video Tuesday 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.

His attorneys say the videos weren’t meant to be taken seriously.

Maldonado-Passage is also accused of killing five tigers in October 2017 and selling and offering to sell tiger cubs in violation of the Endangered Species Act.