Don Lewis
Millionaire exotic animal owner Don Lewis vanished in Tampa, Florida. The Netflix series 'Tiger King' revived interest in the case, implicating his wife Carole Baskin. He was declared legally dead in 2002.
On August 18, 1997, Jack Donald 'Don' Lewis, a 59-year-old millionaire who owned numerous exotic animals in Tampa, Florida, vanished. His van was later found at a small airport, but there was no evidence he boarded a plane.
Lewis's wife Carole (now Carole Baskin) inherited his estate after he was declared legally dead in 2002. His family accused her of involvement in his disappearance and contested the will, which they claimed had been forged.
The case received renewed attention in 2020 with the Netflix series 'Tiger King,' in which Joe Exotic accused Baskin of murdering Lewis and feeding him to her big cats. Baskin has always denied any involvement.
In 2020, the case was officially reopened by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Despite new leads and increased scrutiny, no charges have been filed and Don Lewis has never been found.
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