FL FL - Jack "Don" Lewis, 59, Tampa, 18 Aug 1997 ("Tiger King" missing husband) Joe Exotic guilty

[Vern]

i noticed that as well! surprised more people didn't catch it

I caught it, but it really doesn't ring any alarm bells for me. He was last seen on August 18, 1997.

In 2002, she went to court to have him legally declared dead based upon no contact/sightings since 18 Aug 1997. Judge agreed and declared him legally dead based upon the date of disappearance.

So, 5 years after he disappears, she goes to court and they declare him legally dead. It's been 18 years now since 2002 when that legal declaration of death based off his last seen date of August 18, 1997 was made (which was the day before the license expirey).

It's not shocking that after a minimum of 18 years believing that he died that day, and the courts agreed, that she would make a statement about him dying the day before that license expired/suspended. To her, and to the courts, that is his probable date of death. I really don't think a "eureka" happened or a slip of the tongue that casts shadows of guilt inadvertently … it's been regarded as his death of death for 18 years legally, and probably thought of as that date for even longer than 18 by her personally, but one has to wait that time period after disappearance before a legal declaration can be made.

I'd call that 'habitual' reference to date of death after 18 years of such being legally recognized as so.

I think the real mystery is what happened on 18 Aug. Did he come to harm at her hands? Possible. Given his record of crashing aircraft, could he have taken off on a flight and crashed into the Gulf etc? Also entirely possible. Could he have been flying in an aircraft and had a mechanical difficulty which he couldn't recover from/overcome and went into the Gulf? Also entirely possible as the records clearly prove he was not a competent pilot. That doesn't mean he was flying that day though. Maybe yes, maybe no. That's where the mystery lies. What actually happened on 18 Aug because we all know that's the date whatever it was went down; a nefarious plot or an aircraft he was flying, but that is the day either one of those two things went down.

 

[Vern]

CB got a Student License* 10 months prior to Don's disappearance and she never mentioned it?!

*It can be searched here: FAA Registry - Airmen - AirmenInquiry - Name Search

JMO

The documentary is edited. We've really no idea if she mentioned it or not. We just know that if she did mention it, that part wasn't aired.

I found this whole sordid series just vile … both individuals on both sides. No one holding a single square centimetre of moral high ground in this messy affair.

 

[JudgeJoe]

I caught it, but it really doesn't ring any alarm bells for me. He was last seen on August 18, 1997.

In 2002, she went to court to have him legally declared dead based upon no contact/sightings since 18 Aug 1997. Judge agreed and declared him legally dead based upon the date of disappearance.

So, 5 years after he disappears, she goes to court and they declare him legally dead. It's been 18 years now since 2002 when that legal declaration of death based off his last seen date of August 18, 1997 was made (which was the day before the license expirey).

It's not shocking that after a minimum of 18 years believing that he died that day, and the courts agreed, that she would make a statement about him dying the day before that license expired/suspended. To her, and to the courts, that is his probable date of death. I really don't think a "eureka" happened or a slip of the tongue that casts shadows of guilt inadvertently … it's been regarded as his death of death for 18 years legally, and probably thought of as that date for even longer than 18 by her personally, but one has to wait that time period after disappearance before a legal declaration can be made.

I'd call that 'habitual' reference to date of death after 18 years of such being legally recognized as so.

I think the real mystery is what happened on 18 Aug. Did he come to harm at her hands? Possible. Given his record of crashing aircraft, could he have taken off on a flight and crashed into the Gulf etc? Also entirely possible. Could he have been flying in an aircraft and had a mechanical difficulty which he couldn't recover from/overcome and went into the Gulf? Also entirely possible as the records clearly prove he was not a competent pilot. That doesn't mean he was flying that day though. Maybe yes, maybe no. That's where the mystery lies. What actually happened on 18 Aug because we all know that's the date whatever it was went down; a nefarious plot or an aircraft he was flying, but that is the day either one of those two things went down.

All true. But if he flew off & crashed, there’d be a missing plane somewhere. Haven’t heard reports of that.

 

[PatLaurel]

The documentary is edited. We've really no idea if she mentioned it or not. We just know that if she did mention it, that part wasn't aired.

I found this whole sordid series just vile … both individuals on both sides. No one holding a single square centimetre of moral high ground in this messy affair.

Tiger King is not the only source of information.
CB has been reading her diary on YouTube and also making some other videos where she's a victim while everyone else are villains.
There are a few of videos of her bashing Don's pilot skills... She could have used her Student License as a reference, to give her some credibility, maybe?
In 6 years of marriage to man who was constantly flying planes and she only gets a license 10 months prior to his disappearance? That's a terrible coincidence.

MOO & JMO

 

[kye0001]

I didn’t really want to “like” that, as I don’t wish death threats on anybody, but I do wish for justice. And if CB’s ego & desire for attention wasn’t so enormous, she wouldn’t have been “betrayed” by the docu people. Kinda surprised they didn’t haul in attorneys to review the contracts to limit what sort of info could be aired. Moo

I agree, I can’t understand people that leave death threats. I’ve watched all this unfold for years and she’s done such a lot of wrong to so many people (and animals) it will definitely feel good if she is brought to legal justice though for whatever happened to DL. JMO.

Does that, and the calls in the video above, fall under free speech, just like Don's restraining order against CB did?

JMO MOO

Karmas a strange thing isn’t it? I don’t agree with the death threats but I’d love to be a fly on the wall and see how she is coping with her new found infamy. MOO

The documentary is edited. We've really no idea if she mentioned it or not. We just know that if she did mention it, that part wasn't aired.

I found this whole sordid series just vile … both individuals on both sides. No one holding a single square centimetre of moral high ground in this messy affair.

Trapped in the middle of all of this are a lot of exotic animals who are suffering. Most of them suffered in their previous lives and they’re stuck in substandard cages at BCR as well. They’re the ones I feel sorry for, those and the ones she had PTS too soon (after fundraising for them). I also feel for DLs kids, they’ve had all these years feeling like CB was too big to take on. I wonder if this show has given them any relief? JMO

 

[Vern]

All true. But if he flew off & crashed, there’d be a missing plane somewhere. Haven’t heard reports of that.

Have you googled how many planes have disappeared without a trace over large areas of water?? It's a whooooole bunch of them. Passenger airliners even, let alone small private planes. There's many just in the area of the Bermuda Triangle where it's absolutely know many have disappeared (radar), and despite extensive searches there for them involving, sometimes huge military operations, nary a trace.

I haven't heard reports that a plane wasn't missing though either. I wonder why, exactly, the film-makers didn't delve into that critical bit of info. They seem to want to put some heat on her in a round-about-way- and even bring up his vehicle being found at the airport … yet just don't bother asking LE, or anyone else, if a plane was missing to back up her story? That's kind of hincky isn't it? Or, perhaps the filmmakers did ask the question and just didn't receive an answer they liked. I do know one thing, that's been her story since day 1 and she has been questioned by the cops and they've never charged her. They've not publicly rebuked her saying "no plane is missing, she's lying, she's a suspect/POI/Anything". And, his ex-wife and daughters talked about her story and him apparently flying off to the mistress … and none of them stated that "no plane was missing" either which should have been a pretty important thing for them to mention to back up their own theory that she did it, yet they didn't do that.

The edits and cuts taken with Director-discretion in this series leave a lot to be desired. the ratings are up and people are streaming it; success for them. But the lack of, or snipping of, pertinent details that NO production team worth their salt would ever neglect to ask either A) didn't get asked or B) got left on the floor.

This series and the way it spins everything needs to be taken with a huge elevator-grain of salt.

 

[Vern]

Tiger King is not the only source of information.
CB has been reading her diary on YouTube and also making some other videos where she's a victim while everyone else are villains.
There are a few of videos of her bashing Don's pilot skills... She could have used her Student License as a reference, to give her some credibility, maybe?
In 6 years of marriage to man who was constantly flying planes and she only gets a license 10 months prior to his disappearance? That's a terrible coincidence.

MOO & JMO

Her having a license has nothing to do with his total lack of flying skills though does it?

The whole world is bashing his pilot skills!! They were revoking his license because he proved how awful a pilot he was. I have no pilot license ... but I don't need that to back up the fact the record showed he "sucked at flying." That fact is official. Why would she need to have "credibility" to state a fact that's already well-known and on the official record?

A coincidence of what? Would it make a difference if she'd gotten it the day before or the day after their marriage? Not an iota of difference ... unless your theory is that she flew a plane out there with him in it, tossed him out, then flew back and went home absolutely undetected by anyone. That's pretty keen flying for 10 months experience ... and she was great at landing too because there were no reports of incidents at the airstrip that day (staff then were probably relieved it was her flying and not he). She could have had a license for 20 years prior to him … and we could sit here and say "hmmmm, what a coincidence that she just happened to have a license too … how coincidental." I see no reason why her having a license for 10 months is an indicator of guilt; maybe it was an indicator that she was attempting to share in his passion and past-time? Maybe I'm missing something though, so if you could explain what/how that is I'd certainly appreciate it.

 

[Vern]

RSBM... it will definitely feel good if she is brought to legal justice though for whatever happened to DL. JMO.
….
I also feel for DLs kids, they’ve had all these years feeling like CB was too big to take on. I wonder if this show has given them any relief? JMO

I hope she faces justice too … if she had anything to do with his disappearance.
My query is what did the cops have investigative wise to NOT deem her a POI or suspect?
What parts of that were NOT aired in this series that left out a whole bunch of critical information?

This series is one side. That's obvious when you watch it. It's not objective that's for sure. There's facts missing and I'm not about to string anyone up the flagpole without all the facts and not just a series-for-ratings one-sided spin. Thankfully, the judicial system actually requires that too.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Have you googled how many planes have disappeared without a trace over large areas of water?? It's a whooooole bunch of them. Passenger airliners even, let alone small private planes. There's many just in the area of the Bermuda Triangle where it's absolutely know many have disappeared (radar), and despite extensive searches there for them involving, sometimes huge military operations, nary a trace.

I haven't heard reports that a plane wasn't missing though either. I wonder why, exactly, the film-makers didn't delve into that critical bit of info. They seem to want to put some heat on her in a round-about-way- and even bring up his vehicle being found at the airport … yet just don't bother asking LE, or anyone else, if a plane was missing to back up her story? That's kind of hincky isn't it? Or, perhaps the filmmakers did ask the question and just didn't receive an answer they liked. I do know one thing, that's been her story since day 1 and she has been questioned by the cops and they've never charged her. They've not publicly rebuked her saying "no plane is missing, she's lying, she's a suspect/POI/Anything". And, his ex-wife and daughters talked about her story and him apparently flying off to the mistress … and none of them stated that "no plane was missing" either which should have been a pretty important thing for them to mention to back up their own theory that she did it, yet they didn't do that.

The edits and cuts taken with Director-discretion in this series leave a lot to be desired. the ratings are up and people are streaming it; success for them. But the lack of, or snipping of, pertinent details that NO production team worth their salt would ever neglect to ask either A) didn't get asked or B) got left on the floor.

This series and the way it spins everything needs to be taken with a huge elevator-grain of salt.

I hear ya, but... we’re not looking for planes that have disappeared over water. We’re talking about a plane that would have been flown by JDL.

If one of Don’s planes had disappeared- one he owned, one he rented, one his attorneys owned, etc., I believe LE or someone would have noted that plane missing & the fact would have certainly come up by now. They may not know where it flew or where it crashed, but they would most certainly notice a missing plane. There’s no reason anyone would assume some wreckage in the Bermuda Triangle would be connected to Don.

I think it’s also key to note, the documentary & editing in question, is for a show about the Tiger King. Not CB, not her missing husband. Those elements are secondary to the escalation & demise of TK. So I really don’t think they spun anything. I think the characters & events are so eccentric that no spinning was needed.

But if you want to see some real spinning, check out CB’s video diaries on BCR site. She can’t tell the same story twice without significantly altering or embellishing key details. Her self-editing of her own life story is the real eyebrow-raiser. IMO.

 

[Vern]

I hear ya, but... we’re not looking for planes that have disappeared over water. We’re talking about a plane that would have been flown by JDL.

If one of Don’s planes had disappeared- one he owned, one he rented, one his attorneys owned, etc., I believe LE or someone would have noted that plane missing & the fact would have certainly come up by now. They may not know where it flew or where it crashed, but they would most certainly notice a missing plane. There’s no reason anyone would assume some wreckage in the Bermuda Triangle would be connected to Don.

I think it’s also key to note, the documentary & editing in question, is for a show about the Tiger King. Not CB, not her missing husband. Those elements are secondary to the escalation & demise of TK. So I really don’t think they spun anything. I think the characters & events are so eccentric that no spinning was needed.

But if you want to see some real spinning, check out CB’s video diaries on BCR site. She can’t tell the same story twice without significantly altering or embellishing key details. Her self-editing of her own life story is the real eyebrow-raiser. IMO.

I get what you're saying, but like I said … none, not the ex-wife or the daughters' said anything about any planes NOT being missing. I'm pretty certain they would have mentioned that as a fact when they were indicating their belief she was culpable. "Her story about him disappearing into the water is a lie, no planes were missing".

There's important stuff sitting on that cutting room floor and it doesn't matter what this series was about … they wanted to spin this into (possibly an follow on series??) a series that also cast some shade over CBs way. They've obviously accomplished that haven't they? They spun it to get this result, but they left out some key bits in doing so.

Ergo the giant elevator-grain of salt. They had an obvious agenda based upon the one-sidedness. Tere's a reason it was aired as a 'series' vice as a 'docu-series'. Documentaries and Docu-series are supposed to be unbiased and just present all sides of the story. That didn't occur here. My flagpole remains without anyone strung up.

WHAT happened on 18 Aug, 1997. That's the mystery.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Respectfully SBM:

WHAT happened on 18 Aug, 1997. That's the mystery.

I‘m sure that’s why we’re all here- what happened to Don Lewis? Which is why we’re looking at all available info, not just TK show. Statements from LE, attorneys, daughters, first wife, media reports. We can speculate what may or may not be on a cutting room floor, but I’m much more interested in finding clues in established sources. Moo

 

[Vern]

Respectfully SBM:

I‘m sure that’s why we’re all here- what happened to Don Lewis? Which is why we’re looking at all available info, not just TK show. Statements from LE, attorneys, daughters, first wife, media reports. We can speculate what may or may not be on a cutting room floor, but I’m much more interested in finding clues in established sources. Moo

I get that. Are you looking for clues showing she's guilty? Seems like it (for some anyway).

How does her having a pilot license for 10 months indicate guilt OR evidence of an actual crime having been committed?

One fact is that LE did investigate this and hasn't arrested her, named her a POI or a suspect. I'm not even certain that LE has stated that a crime occurred with his disappearance.

What happened on 18 Aug, 1997? Did a crime occur? We need to establish that as a FACT first because if it's NOT a fact, then there simply is NO POI/Suspect.

My question remains.

 

[itsreenw]

There's no proof of a crime happening, but there are a lot of questionable actions that make Carole and others appear guilty of something.

In one of her vlogs, Carole stated that Don used to disappear for days. I'm curious to know if she reported him as missing any of those times. If not, why report him missing just one day after he supposedly left for the last time.

Kenny Farr's wife is positive he came home the night before Don's departure with DL's van and guns.

She accused DL's assistant of transferring properties out of DL's name into her own, but she did the same thing. How did she know Don wasn't coming back to oversee his own properties?

WHY would she sign over properties to Kenny Farr? She wasn't generous with anyone else except her family members.

 

[Vern]

There's no proof of a crime happening, but there are a lot of questionable actions that make Carole and others appear guilty of something.

In one of her vlogs, Carole stated that Don used to disappear for days. I'm curious to know if she reported him as missing any of those times. If not, why report him missing just one day after he supposedly left for the last time.

He could disappear off on his own for days, but if she knew where he was at why report? My hub disappears off hunting too, but checks in when he gets there. If he's not back on the day he says he's going to be home, then I'd worry. Maybe he was supposed to report in when he got to the mistress but didn't ergo she reported him missing?

Kenny Farr's wife is positive he came home the night before Don's departure with DL's van and guns.

If, as the story goes, he was planning to forego it all and take off to live the high-life with the mistress and told CB so … why not give his van and guns away as he wouldn't need them in his new country? Or why not her give them away then if she didn't want his guns or need his van and he was going to live in another country?

She accused DL's assistant of transferring properties out of DL's name into her own, but she did the same thing. How did she know Don wasn't coming back to oversee his own properties?

There's a bit in the series about him having actually voiced that he was going to take off to live with the mistress. perhaps that's how she knew? I'm a little more concerned than an assistant was transferring his properties in to her own name … than I would be about an "abandoned wife" trying to keep a business running doing same. Why the heck would an assistant want to put this guy's properties into her name? That makes zero sense. That's hincky itself.

WHY would she sign over properties to Kenny Farr? She wasn't generous with anyone else except her family members.

Why not? I'd be generous with my family members too. maybe, of everyone else involved in this very sordid story, Kenny Farr was the only individual who she regarded as being kind/friendly to her? Did you watch the same series that I did? Would you be generous with a group (his ex etc) who was tossing accusations at you if you were innocent? Then we'd be saying, "she was being generous with his family … trying to buy them off/buy their silence."

There's as many non-implicating explanations as there are implicating explanations. I say look into that assistant who was putting stuff into her own name. Why? (Not really, I don't think the assistant did anything wither, but her moving assets around into her own name rather than to the wife, hubby or ex wife is more alarming for me that the wife doing so).

 

[JudgeJoe]

I get that. Are you looking for clues showing she's guilty? Seems like it (for some anyway).

How does her having a pilot license for 10 months indicate guilt OR evidence of an actual crime having been committed?

One fact is that LE did investigate this and hasn't arrested her, named her a POI or a suspect. I'm not even certain that LE has stated that a crime occurred with his disappearance.

What happened on 18 Aug, 1997? Did a crime occur? We need to establish that as a FACT first because if it's NOT a fact, then there simply is NO POI/Suspect.

My question remains.

I never said anything about CB’s pilot license pertaining to guilt or innocence. I think you meant to direct that question to OP.

 

[PatLaurel]

Her having a license has nothing to do with his total lack of flying skills though does it?

The whole world is bashing his pilot skills!! They were revoking his license because he proved how awful a pilot he was. I have no pilot license ... but I don't need that to back up the fact the record showed he "sucked at flying." That fact is official. Why would she need to have "credibility" to state a fact that's already well-known and on the official record?

A coincidence of what? Would it make a difference if she'd gotten it the day before or the day after their marriage? Not an iota of difference ... unless your theory is that she flew a plane out there with him in it, tossed him out, then flew back and went home absolutely undetected by anyone. That's pretty keen flying for 10 months experience ... and she was great at landing too because there were no reports of incidents at the airstrip that day (staff then were probably relieved it was her flying and not he). She could have had a license for 20 years prior to him … and we could sit here and say "hmmmm, what a coincidence that she just happened to have a license too … how coincidental." I see no reason why her having a license for 10 months is an indicator of guilt; maybe it was an indicator that she was attempting to share in his passion and past-time? Maybe I'm missing something though, so if you could explain what/how that is I'd certainly appreciate it.

My theory is that all the theories on how Don "disappeared" came directly from her stollen diary. I'm basing my theory on all the unreliable and unverifiable sources online. So, to me, every little detail CB hasn't addressed to yet, makes me wonder that maybe there is some true in the unreliable and unverifiable sources.

And i don't think the whole world is bashing Don's pilot skills... in 11 years of flying there is only ONE report of a non-fatal accident. We don't know exactly how the other two happened... if they happened at all.

I do think CB has something to do with Don's disappearance, but of course, everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

JMO

 

[PatLaurel]

There's no proof of a crime happening, but there are a lot of questionable actions that make Carole and others appear guilty of something.

In one of her vlogs, Carole stated that Don used to disappear for days. I'm curious to know if she reported him as missing any of those times. If not, why report him missing just one day after he supposedly left for the last time.

Kenny Farr's wife is positive he came home the night before Don's departure with DL's van and guns.

She accused DL's assistant of transferring properties out of DL's name into her own, but she did the same thing. How did she know Don wasn't coming back to oversee his own properties?

WHY would she sign over properties to Kenny Farr? She wasn't generous with anyone else except her family members.

BBM


THIS!

 

[itsreenw]

It would be interesting to hear what her brother's partner said about the night he

He could disappear off on his own for days, but if she knew where he was at why report? My hub disappears off hunting too, but checks in when he gets there. If he's not back on the day he says he's going to be home, then I'd worry. Maybe he was supposed to report in when he got to the mistress but didn't ergo she reported him missing?


If, as the story goes, he was planning to forego it all and take off to live the high-life with the mistress and told CB so … why not give his van and guns away as he wouldn't need them in his new country? Or why not her give them away then if she didn't want his guns or need his van and he was going to live in another country?


There's a bit in the series about him having actually voiced that he was going to take off to live with the mistress. perhaps that's how she knew? I'm a little more concerned than an assistant was transferring his properties in to her own name … than I would be about an "abandoned wife" trying to keep a business running doing same. Why the heck would an assistant want to put this guy's properties into her name? That makes zero sense. That's hincky itself.

Why not? I'd be generous with my family members too. maybe, of everyone else involved in this very sordid story, Kenny Farr was the only individual who she regarded as being kind/friendly to her? Did you watch the same series that I did? Would you be generous with a group (his ex etc) who was tossing accusations at you if you were innocent? Then we'd be saying, "she was being generous with his family … trying to buy them off/buy their silence."

There's as many non-implicating explanations as there are implicating explanations. I say look into that assistant who was putting stuff into her own name. Why? (Not really, I don't think the assistant did anything wither, but her moving assets around into her own name rather than to the wife, hubby or ex wife is more alarming for me that the wife doing so).

BBM
She reported him missing the next day. She said he would "disappear for days." To me, if someone disappears that means they aren't checking in and their whereabouts are unknown. If disappearing was a normal behavior for him, why wouldn't she assume he'd be back like any other time?

She didn't know if he was coming back so why give away his belongings this time? Why not before when he disappeared for days?

I understand innocent until proven guilty. Her inconsistent, embellished stories, lack of concern, negative comments about her missing husband and premature liquidation of his personal belongings and real property make her look guilty to many people on this thread.
And let's not forget TWO men requested restraining orders because they feared for their lives and one comes up missing.

If his assistant transferred property into her name it was possibly on Don's instructions. He was planning on divorcing Carole and may have been trying to protect his assets. He thought Carole was stealing from him.

If my husband went missing I'd tell them to give me a lie detector test, take my prints, dna, whatever...asap. Total transparency for someone I love.

 

[PatLaurel]

She didn't know if he was coming back so why give away his belongings this time? Why not before when he disappeared for days?



If my husband went missing I'd tell them to give me a lie detector test, take my prints, dna, whatever...asap. Total transparency for someone I love.

SBM and BBM

Not to mention that 4 weeks later she disconnected Don's phone, and the contract was not even in her name nor Don's. How was she able to do that? And why do it, when that was the only way to try to get ahold of her "missing" husband?

JMO

 

[JudgeJoe]

It would be interesting to hear what her brother's partner said about the night he

BBM
She reported him missing the next day. She said he would "disappear for days." To me, if someone disappears that means they aren't checking in and their whereabouts are unknown. If disappearing was a normal behavior for him, why wouldn't she assume he'd be back like any other time?

She didn't know if he was coming back so why give away his belongings this time? Why not before when he disappeared for days?

I understand innocent until proven guilty. Her inconsistent, embellished stories, lack of concern, negative comments about her missing husband and premature liquidation of his personal belongings and real property make her look guilty to many people on this thread.
And let's not forget TWO men requested restraining orders because they feared for their lives and one comes up missing.

If his assistant transferred property into her name it was possibly on Don's instructions. He was planning on divorcing Carole and may have been trying to protect his assets. He thought Carole was stealing from him.

If my husband went missing I'd tell them to give me a lie detector test, take my prints, dna, whatever...asap. Total transparency for someone I love.

Great points! Back to the 2 men who filed restraining orders... whatever happened to the 2nd guy? You’d think media would be all over getting an interview with him for his input & insight. He’s the one who claimed CB was hoping the DB found near LazyDays wasn’t on one of her properties. Either he refuses to talk, wants his privacy, LE has asked him not to discuss it... or he can’t be found either? If he’s hoping to stay out of the spotlight, that ship has already sailed.

ETA: I almost missed the part in your post about her brother. YES! Why haven’t there been interviews/ reports on his version of this story- the night Don went missing he randomly runs into her at 3AM while out on patrol?! And his partner takes CB back to BCR? Interviews with partner too please!