In two new explosive specials launching in March, Investigation Discovery lifts the lid on notorious Joe Exotic, whose acts of animal exploitation shocked audiences around the world.
iD delivers the definitive prequel, Joe Exotic: Before He Was King before revealing what happened when the cameras stopped rolling on Tiger King in the three-part special, Joe Exotic: Tigers, Lies and Cover Up Across four weeks, Investigation Discovery will examine Joe’s tumultuous childhood and the dark secrets that led to his descent, the bizarre saga with sworn enemy, Carole Baskin and the biggest question in true crime today – what happened to Carole’s husband, Don Lewis? Plus, we hear from Joe Exotic himself in exclusive interviews from jail.
Joe Exotic: Before He Was King delves into the childhood traumas and dramatic events which puts the entire salacious story of the Tiger King in context and uncovers dark secrets about Joseph Allen Schreibvogel aka Joe Exotic’s past. A pattern of narcissistic, anti-social behaviour, and an extreme need for power encouraged the theatre of Joe Exotic’s intrigue and controversy. Using exclusive and never-before-seen interview footage of Joe, including personal photos and home movies, the special reveals the dark secrets that led to the colossal crash which has landed him in prison for decades. What sent Joe Exotic down the path of depravity, polygamy, live animal collecting and trading and ultimately, conspiracy to commit murder?
This comprehensive one-hour special features a panel of forensic psychologists and law enforcement experts who have studied the case, including Investigation Discovery’s own, Derrick Levasseur of Breaking Homicide, as they reveal the troubled past of the man behind the hype. And for the first time ever, interviews with the ‘King’s’ inner circle – including a prison interview from Joe’s second husband, Jeffrey Charles “JC” Hartpence – analyse the evidence to present a vivid portrait of Joe Exotic’s psychological descent into madness.
In one of the most convoluted mysteries of recent times, Joe Exotic’s hunger for popularity also ignited a long-running feud with Big Cat Rescue’s Carole Baskin that’s spurred controversy and wild accusations, each more outrageous than the last, as their saga played out for the world to see. The three-part special, Joe Exotic: Tigers, Lies and Cover Up examines the evidence surrounding the mysterious disappearance of Carole’s first husband, Don Lewis, helmed by exclusive jailhouse interviews from Joe Exotic himself. Retired homicide investigator Jim Rathmann leads the investigation to discover the truth, revealing new theories uncovered by private investigators, reliving Lewis’s final days and demeanour with those closest to him, and unpacking evidence exposed by criminal and legal experts. Punctuated throughout are interviews with those in Joe Exotic’s inner circle, including his husband Dillon Passage and members of “Team Tiger,” a group working to free Joe from behind bars. Beyond the controversial missing person investigation, this special also explores the criminal case against Joe Exotic.
Investigation Discovery’s insight provides a comprehensive overview of the story so far and reveals new evidence that begs the question: Was Joe Exotic the predator all along, or is he actually the prey?
Joe Exotic: Before He Was King (1×60)
Stream or watch Saturday 13 March at 8:30pm AEDT on Investigation Discovery
Joe Exotic: Tigers, Lies and Cover Up (3×60)
Stream or watch Saturdays from 20 March at 8:30pm AEDT on Investigation Discovery
Available on Foxtel & Fetch
