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Flores kept to himself mostly, but late-night visitors could occasionally be seen on small boats paddling to the house through the moonlight. Most of them were other eccentrics from parts unknown. Early one morning, a man was fishing for mojarra 100 meters from the shore and thought he heard a gunshot coming from the island. He noticed shadowy figures paddling to shore and he went into town to report the incident. When the police arrived, they found Mr. Flores’ mutilated body in the lion cage. The official report was that he was killed by the lion, however, that didn’t explain the gunshot that the fishermen heard or the people in the boat. Many doubted the claim.