Travis Maldonado was a 19-year-old Californian with a drug addiction past that is addressed in the show.
According to the series, he came to Exotic’s zoo in 2013 on the recommendation of a mutual acquaintance.
Maldonado’s addiction was supposed to be managed by working with animals, so Exotic hired him to work at his animal park – but the two quickly got emotionally involved.
Exotic married Maldonado, who was 32 years his junior, and John Finlay in a three-way marriage not long after his arrival.
Travis Maldonado Cause Of Death: How Did Joe Exotic’s Husband Die?
With a rifle, Maldonado approached the zoo’s souvenir store on October 6, 2017, where Exotic’s political campaign manager Joshua Dial was working.
Maldonado fooled around with the gun, pointing it toward Dial and himself, according to the series, which is based on Dial’s account.
When Dial implored him not to, Maldonado assured him that if the magazine was removed, the gun wouldn’t shoot. It’s unclear whether Maldonado was aware that this was incorrect.
Maldonado then shot himself in the head, killing himself instantaneously.