The cause of death for Erik Cowie, the tiger handler featured in the Netflix documentary 'Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness', has been confirmed as acute and chronic alcohol use. The 53-year-old was found dead in a friend's bedroom in New York City on September 3.
New York City's chief medical examiner ruled the death as natural, according to reports. Cowie served as head zookeeper at the G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Park in Oklahoma for five years under Joe Exotic, but later fell out with him over alleged controversial practices.
During Exotic's trial, Cowie testified that older tigers had been shot and killed at the zoo. In the reunion episode 'The Tiger King And I', he expressed relief that Exotic was in prison and admitted feeling guilty for euthanising animals unnecessarily.
Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is currently serving a 22-year sentence for animal abuse and attempting to hire a hitman to kill rival Carole Baskin. Speaking from prison, Exotic said he was not shocked by Cowie's death, citing his former employee's history of alcohol abuse.
