TAMPA, Fla. — The 45-year-old man accused of killing a popular dancing flamingo at Busch Gardens has been deemed competent to stand trial, according to court documents filed earlier this month.
Joseph Anthony Carrao is accused of reaching into an animal pen, grabbing a flamingo named Pinky and slamming her down in August 2016. Pinky was later euthanized.
At the time Carrao, 47, who had a previous criminal record for violent behavior, was deemed incompetent for trial.
Carrao was evaluated by local doctors. He was also ordered to undergo in-home competency training to get him to the point where he could be prosecuted.
“This case, because of the news and notoriety, they are going to take it all the way,” local criminal defense attorney Denis DeVlaming said.
Carrao was found competent at a hearing on March 6 of this year based on the evidence presented. The court appointed Dr. Joseph Paight to reevaluate Corrao.
Carrao does not have a future court date listed as of Thursday morning, according to the Hillsborough Circuit Court clerk.
DeVlaming said prosecutors know people are watching and there is pressure from Busch Gardens to send a signal that harming its animals won’t be tolerated.
“Pinky was probably a different story. The outrage was there. The notoriety was there,” said DeVlaming. “And the thirst for blood, to a certain extent, from the people who, whether they be animal rights activist or not, was there.”
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