Joe Exotic moved out of isolation to 'room with a hospital bed and window' after months of Covid-19 quarantine
Tiger King star Joseph 'Joe Exotic' Maldonado-Passage, who has been serving out a 22-year prison sentence, has been released from isolation after a letter-writing campaign from fans, a representative reveals. Joe Exotic, who had been locked up in the 'SHU' (Special Housing Unit), has now been reportedly placed in "a room with a hospital bed and a WINDOW", as per a note posted on Maldonado Passage's Instagram page on Tuesday, June 23. A statement released on another post read, "Recently, most of you became aware of the fact that Joe was being unjustly held in solitary confinement for an extended period of time."
"Two thousand of you were kind enough to take time out of your busy lives, in spite of all that is going on in this world around us today, to write and ask that he be released," the statement had said. "It is with much sincere gratitude that we can tell you all today your efforts have paid off! Joe has called this very day to let us know that the day has finally come. For the first time in two years he is able to simply look out of a window into the world beyond while being lifted out of hopelessness and desperation by the kindness shown from all of you," the statement continued. Inmate records reveal that Joe Exotic is presently held at Fort Worth FMC, a medical center operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He was transferred to Fort Worth Texas amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In April, Joe Exotic's husband Dillon Passage shared that Joe Exotic was placed "on a COVID-19 isolation" behind bars. Dillon said, "We speak like three to five times every day, but since he’s been moved to this new facility, they are putting him on a COVID-19 isolation because of the previous jail he was at, there were cases. I’ve yet to speak to him since he moved." We had previously reported that Joe was the former owner of Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park and is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for hiring someone to murder his big cat rival owners, Carole Baskin.
In a letter recently penned for his "supporters, fans, loves ones [sic]," Joe Exotic said that he will "be dead in 2-3 months" as he is not receiving the proper medical care that he needs while incarcerated. "I'm loosing [sic] weight, sores wont heal, I'll be dead in 2-3 months, it's like I have been sent to death row, they stopped all of my medication except one, this place is hell on earth [sic]," he wrote. "I don't even know if I'm married anymore, seems everyone is so busy making money and being famous. I don't get even a letter from Dillon, everyone sends pictures of him having fun and all but as a person screaming for help I am asking you to stop." He continued, saying, "And the mental torture of being locked in this room alone and not even hearing Dillon's voice or a letter, I wish I could just have ended things when Travis died," referring to one of his former husbands, who accidentally shot himself in the head. "... If he has moved on he should tell me, if he hasn't I am begging to support me. Sad to be dumped like a dog in the shelter but that's how it feels," he added.