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Why did Jeff Johnson kill himself? Rumor is 'Tiger King' star knew Carole Baskin's secret

The news of Jeff Johnson's death comes on the heels of the death of another 'Tiger King' star Erik Cowie

Reptile dealer Jeffrey Lynn Johnson, more famous as Jeff Johnson from 'Tiger King', has tragically died at the age of 58 years. He was featured in the popular Netflix docuseries 'Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness' and became a familiar face among viewers. The news of his death was confirmed by the Oklahoma City Police Department and the cause of his death is believed to be suicide. 

Jeff Johnson's death comes on the heels of the death of another 'Tiger King' star Erik Cowie, who passed away on September 3, 2021, at his apartment in New York City. The medical examiner ruled alcohol abuse as the cause of his death. The 53-year-old was a zookeeper at Joe Exotic's private animal sanctuary. Meanwhile, Jeff Johnson's tragic death was mourned by fans on social media who offered condolences to his family. Joe Exotic's attorney has also communicated with Johnson's wife Charity following the tragic death of her husband. 

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How did Jeff Johnson die? 

The reptile expert, who appeared in the fourth episode of the Netflix series in Season 1, reportedly attempted suicide on September 8, following an argument with his wife Charity. According to police reports, cops were summoned to his home around 10 pm that day after he attempted suicide in front of his wife. He shot himself in the family's garage, where the argument had originally taken place. Shockingly, both his children, who are 4 and 5 years old respectively, were inside the house at the time. 

Johnson was soon rushed to the hospital by the cops who found that he still had a pulse. However, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. His death report also suggests that he had no prior history of mental health issues, which might have propelled them towards such a drastic step. 

On November 17, 2021, the second season of 'Tiger King' debuted on Netflix and featured the original stars including Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin. However, Jeff Johnson did not make a return to the show in its second season.  

"There have been so many deaths with those involved in Tiger King. #JeffJohnson," journalist Perez Hilton tweeted. "Jeff Johnson, who appeared in the Netflix documentary "Tiger King" and was the former reptile trader in the fourth episode of the 2020 series, has passed away at the age of 58," another user wrote. A few users speculated that Johnson might have known some secret about Carole Baskin, which circumstantially led to his death. However, there is no confirmed basis for the rumors yet and Johnson's death is believed to be due to a domestic dispute.