Almost three years ago, in 2016, 45-year-old Joseph Anthony Corrao from Orlando, Florida was charged with felony animal cruelty after witnesses said that he ripped a beloved famous dancing flamingo from her pen and slammed her on the ground – causing fatal injuries.
“Pinky” the dancing flamingo was a staple of Busch Gardens’ variety of animal exhibits and was known worldwide for her dancing skills.
Corrao, who was visiting the park with his mother and young daughter, slammed the bird with such force, he nearly severed one of the flamingo’s legs and she had to be euthanized by emergency veterinarian personnel.
The Tampa Bay Times reported at the time that he told police he was trying to show off to his daughter.
https://www.facebook.com/FOX13TampaBay/videos/10153883293028525/
According to WFTV 9, Corrao’s trial had been scheduled to take place in August of this year, but that will not be happening.
On June 5th, 2019, Corrao was hit and killed by a pickup truck while crossing a busy street in Orlando in the early morning hours. He died at the hospital and the driver was not cited.
The station also reports that his alleged killing of Pinky the dancing flamingo was not his only run in with animal abuse charges. He had previously been arrested for felony animal cruelty after shooting his neighbor’s two dogs.
Social media was exploding with people sharing their thoughts on this new twist in Pinky’s homicide case.
Flamingos can drive trucks! Who knew? Well done Picky’s friends!!
— Todd DiLaMuca (@DiLaMucaTodd) June 26, 2019
Mamas – Please raise more sensitive men than this. Surely there’s a happy medium.
— Colton Weeks (@CMWeeks) June 26, 2019
Now THAT’S what I call KARMA
— scribeofsolomon (@scribeofsolomon) June 26, 2019
Justice served.
— Coach Sean Singleton (@SAS770511) June 25, 2019
I don’t really believe in karma, but sometimes it’s hard to deny it. Sympathy to his family for their loss, however.
— Birdie Lou (@birdielou3733) June 26, 2019