Jack Donald Lewis, a 59-year-old businessman from Tampa, Florida, was last seen on August 18, 1997. Known as "Don," he left his home early that morning to make a delivery at around 6:00 a.m., but he was never heard from again. The next day, his white 1989 Dodge van was found abandoned at the Pilot Country Airport, a private airfield in Pasco County. The keys were left inside the vehicle, but there were no other clues as to his whereabouts. Although Lewis had aviation experience and owned several planes, his pilot’s license had been suspended at the time of his disappearance due to multiple previous aviation accidents.
Lewis was a wealthy real estate developer who had amassed millions of dollars, and he co-owned a wildlife sanctuary, "Wildlife on Easy Street," with his wife, Carole Baskin. Their relationship had been troubled in the months leading up to his disappearance, and just two months earlier, Lewis had unsuccessfully sought a domestic violence injunction against her, claiming she had threatened his life. Despite these tensions, Baskin denied any involvement in his disappearance, although she refused to take a polygraph, citing her attorney's advice.
There were rumors that Lewis might have fled to Costa Rica, where he owned properties and often conducted business. Investigators searched his assets and contacts in Costa Rica but found no evidence that he had traveled there after his disappearance. His family, particularly his children from a previous marriage, strongly suspected foul play and accused Baskin of being involved. Lewis was declared legally dead in 2002, but his case remains unsolved, with no conclusive evidence pointing to what happened to him. The case has garnered renewed attention over the years, especially following its coverage in the Netflix series *Tiger King*.
Last Seen: Aug 18, 1997
