“Tiger King” star Joe Exotic has been placed in quarantine. Joe, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was isolated after being infected with scabies, his legal team informed The Dallas Morning News. According to the Mayo Clinic, scabies is a “contagious skin rash caused by a mite that burrows under the skin and lays eggs.”
The former zookeeper, 61, is currently serving a 21-year sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth for plotting to hire a hitman to murder his rival Carole Baskin and for violating federal wildlife laws.
A representative for the Fort Worth prison confirmed an outbreak of scabies in a housing unit, leading to a temporary suspension of visitation to that unit. The prison declined to comment on the specific confinement conditions for inmates but stated that measures were taken to reduce the risk of exposure, emphasizing their seriousness towards communicable infections. The spokesperson also mentioned that the facility is currently facing a staffing crisis, including medical employees.
Joe’s lawyer, Roger Roots, revealed that his client had been experiencing symptoms such as a rash and itching for over a month and a half. The legal team alleged that the reality star had observed “very unsanitary” conditions in the prison, including rats in beds. The prison spokesperson denied the allegation of a vermin infestation.
Despite the scabies outbreak, Joe’s attorney says the former zookeeper remains ‘optimistic’ about the prospect of being freed in 2025 and is even considering a career in academia.
Source link: https://nypost.com
