Opinion
Tiger King: ‘Explosive’ new witness implicates handyman in killing of Carole Baskin’s ex Don Lewis
FIRST ON FOX: The daughter of Carole Baskin’s second husband, who vanished almost 25 years in the past, is outraged that Florida prosecutors gained’t pursue a homicide case towards her dad’s former handyman after an “explosive” new witness got here ahead implicating him.
Florida detectives introduced proof to the Tampa state legal professional’s workplace in July towards Kenny Farr for the alleged homicide of Don Lewis, who disappeared Aug. 18, 1997, when he was 59.
YDon Lewis’ daughter Donna Pettis with beginner sleuth Jack Smith
(Courtesy of Donna Pettis)
“I’m shocked that the state legal professional’s workplace isn’t prepared to pursue this. What this witness is aware of is explosive,” Don Lewis’ daughter Donna Pettis advised Fox Information Digital. “There’s sufficient circumstantial proof alone with out the brand new witness’ assertion for them to at the least convene a grand jury. I’m extraordinarily upset.”
‘TIGER KING’ STAR JOE EXOTIC RESENTENCED TO 21 YEARS IN PRISON
The brand new witness reportedly advised detectives that a couple of yr after Lewis was reported lacking, the previous handyman confirmed up at a tenting journey and drunkenly advised the group he removed Lewis’ physique by utilizing a wooden chipper.
Former huge cat zoo proprietor Joe Unique and his nemesis huge cat rescuer Carole Baskin. He’s in jail for hiring successful man to kill her.
The brand new witness got here ahead after the airing of the wildly in style 2020 Netflix sequence “Tiger King,” which paperwork the vicious rivalry between former huge cat zoo proprietor Joe Unique, also called Jason Maldonado-Passage, and large cat rescuer Carole Baskin.
The feud in the end landed Joe Unique behind bars for hiring successful man to kill her.
Maldonado-Passage had lengthy accused Baskin of orchestrating the homicide of Lewis, utilizing a meat grinder to get rid of his stays and burying the bigger physique elements below a septic tank on the property the place the couple lived and ran an animal sanctuary.
Don Lewis’ disappearance
Baskin has vigorously denied on her web site that she had something to do with the disappearance of her second husband, an eccentric millionaire with whom she shared a love of unique animals.
The pair based the animal sanctuary Wildlife on Straightforward Road in Tampa, which is now referred to as Massive Cat Rescue. Lewis advised household and pals that he deliberate to depart Baskin and transfer to Costa Rica. Baskin didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
After “Tiger King” aired, Trish Farr-Payne publicly got here ahead and implicated Farr, her ex-husband.
Don Lewis, huge cat rescuer Carole Baskin’s second husband, pictured with a leopard.
(Courtesy of Donna Pettis)
The day earlier than Baskin reported that Lewis went lacking, Farr allegedly arrived residence in the midst of the night time with Lewis’ van and weapons.
Farr-Payne advised Fox Information Digital that when she requested Farr why he was in possession of Lewis’ property, he allegedly advised her, “Don’s gone and I’m holding onto them for Carole.”
‘TIGER KING’ STAR JOE EXOTIC PLEADS FOR PUBLIC’S HELP IN PAYING OFF NEMESIS CAROLE BASKIN
After that night time she mentioned he grew to become “paranoid,” suspected their telephones have been tapped and advised her to not focus on Lewis.
“When it hit the information I requested Kenny if he had something to do with it, and he mentioned, ‘Don’t ask me questions you don’t need solutions to,’” Farr-Payne recalled.
Throughout an argument months later, she mentioned Farr threatened, “When you attempt to depart me another time, I’ll put you thru a grinder identical to I did Don.”
‘Explosive’ new witness
Beginner on-line sleuth Jack Smith, generally known as Ripper Jack, launched a Fb group in April 2020 centered on fixing the case. About six months later, he introduced a tip line and a $100,000 reward for data resulting in the arrest and conviction of Lewis’ killer.
The brand new witness referred to as the tip line in Might 2021. Weeks later Lewis’ household legal professional, Alex Spiro, interviewed him in Orlando, Florida, as Smith noticed.
Trish Farr-Payne with ex-husband Kenny Farr and their kids.
(Courtesy of Trish Farr-Payne)
“He mentioned Kenny advised him he removed Don Lewis’ physique by utilizing a wooden chipper that was on the farm,” Smith mentioned, referring to the 172-acre property Lewis owned however was separate from the 40-acre animal sanctuary. Spiro declined to debate particulars of the case.
The witness by no means requested for remuneration, Smith mentioned.
Within the second installment of the documentary, “Tiger King 2,” which aired final November, Farr denied he was concerned in Lewis’ demise. Fox Information Digital was unable to achieve him for this story.
Trish Farr-Payne, who was married to Kenny Farr, and believes he was concerned in Don Lewis’ disappearance.
(Courtesy of Trish Farr-Payne)
“It’s inconceivable to suppose he’s nonetheless with us,” Spiro mentioned of Lewis. “It’s not a lacking individuals case, it’s not a suicide. There’s no proof of some accident. We all know it’s a murder.”
Spiro handed over the brand new witness to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Workplace who had reopened the lacking individuals case and employed two retired NYPD murder detectives to work on it after the primary documentary was launched.
Case introduced to Tampa state legal professional’s workplace
After conducting dozens of interviews and following up on over 200 leads, the detectives introduced the proof that they had gathered throughout an in-person assembly with prosecutors in July, pushing for an arrest.
However the Tampa state legal professional’s workplace declined to pursue the case.
“The Sheriff’s Workplace gave us an replace on the progress of their ongoing investigation,” Chief Communications Officer Grayson Kamm advised Fox Information Digital. “As with every chilly case, if there’s enough proof to show a perpetrator dedicated a criminal offense, then we’ll file costs.”
Don Lewis holding an animal earlier than he vanished in 1997.
(Courtesy of Donna Pettis)
A former member of law-enforcement didn’t agree with the characterization of the assembly. “They wished Kenny Farr arrested,” the supply mentioned. “This wasn’t somewhat replace however a full presentation with a compelling argument for an arrest backed up by proof and this new corroborating witness.”
Shortly after Tampa rejected the case, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Workplace requested Florida’s Lawyer Normal Ashley Moody to pursue it. But it surely has been months and the AG’s workplace hasn’t given a sign both means, sources advised Fox Information Digital.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Workplace declined to remark, whereas the AG’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Present standing of Don Lewis case
In a press convention in November, the lead detective on the case, Cpl. Moises Garcia, mentioned the investigation was nonetheless lively, and that Baskin stays a “suspect and particular person of curiosity.”
He mentioned the one two individuals who have refused to be interviewed are Baskin and Farr.
Baskin, by means of her legal professional, has rebuffed at the least three interview requests by detectives, Garcia mentioned. He referred to as her refusal to cooperate uncommon.
Jack Smith, also called Ripper Jack, saying a $100,000 reward for data resulting in the arrest of Don Lewis’ killer.
(Jack Smith)
“She does lots of interviews, she does lots of on-line interviews with completely different personalities the place she says that the sheriff’s workplace has not even approached her,” he mentioned. “That may be very irritating when you understand you’ve approached a number of occasions.”
She has additionally refused to let investigators search her property.
Smith, the net sleuth, mentioned there’s overwhelming proof that Baskin and Farr have been concerned in Lewis’ disappearance. He famous a number of of probably the most compelling examples.
About two months earlier than vanishing, Lewis utilized for a protecting order towards Baskin, claiming she had threatened to kill him twice and gave it to his finest good friend and secretary, Anne McQueen. “He advised her if something ever occurs to me, you’ll know what to do with this,” mentioned Smith, who interviewed McQueen.
On-line sleuth Jack Smith with Don Lewis’ first wife and three daughters.
(Courtesy of Donna Pettis)
Baskin mentioned she final noticed him the morning of August 18, 1997, however Farr allegedly advised his wife that Lewis was gone the night time earlier than.
Smith mentioned the need that left almost $7 million to Baskin is one other pink flag. Sandra Wittkop, the couple’s former housekeeper, who’s listed because the notary on the need and energy of legal professional, advised Smith she by no means signed the paperwork.
A handwriting professional additionally weighed in and mentioned that Lewis’ signature on each paperwork matched too carefully to be genuine and concluded they have been probably traced from the couple’s marriage license. As well as, Baskin allegedly transferred a number of properties to Farr, Smith mentioned.
Don Lewis’ household needs justice
Pettis mentioned she and her siblings Gale Rathbone, Lynda Sanchez and Danny Lewis deeply miss their father and are haunted by not figuring out precisely what occurred to him.
He would nonetheless go to on the vacations after he left their mom for Baskin. “I bear in mind him bringing raccoons one Easter and child bears the following yr,” she recalled. “He was a really distinctive particular person and the toughest working man I ever met.”
Donna Lewis together with his first wife and their kids.
(Courtesy of Donna Pettis)
However he was additionally flawed, she added. Lewis was raped when he was 15 and it left profound injury. She mentioned he had lasting points with sexuality and constancy, which have been documented in “Tiger King 2.”
In any case these years, the household remains to be hopeful they’ll get justice and that Baskin and Farr can be held accountable.
“You by no means recover from one thing like this,” Pettis mentioned. “That void will at all times be there however we would like closure.”
