HOUSTON -- The owner of a malnourished lion that severely mauled an 8-year-old girl at a flea market last weekend has dropped out of sight, police said Saturday.
Gary Durkovitz, 35, known to his friends as the 'beastmaster,' has not returned to his residence since he was released from custody after his lion attacked Roxanne Hernandez last Saturday, juvenile officers said.
'We sure would like to find him,' said officer Don Swonke.
Durkovitz was leading his lion, which authorities say was 200 to 400 pounds underweight, through a north Houston flea market on a chain Oct. 10 when it became agitated in the crowd, grabbed the girl and bit her in the head.
Hermann Hospital officials said Hernandez is improving and has been moved out of the intensive care unit into a regular ward.
On Friday, James McInvale, who owns the flea market and Gallery Furniture, released a statement saying a payment has been made toward Hernandez's medical bills.
'My wife, Linda, and myself were shocked by this terrible incident. Our thoughts and prayers immediately went to Roxanne and the Hernandez family. As of Friday ... arrangements have been made for a payment toward the cost of her medical bills at Hermann Hospital,' the statement said.
McInvale would not elaborate about the payment on the advice of his attorney.
Swonke said officers have been interviewing people familiar with the lion to determine if Durkovitz acted recklessly in taking the animal to the flea market. He said some people have told officers that Durkovitz knew the lion had bitten two 3-year-old twins in 1986, when it was in the care of a previous owner. They did not know anything more about the incident.
'There are folks saying that Durkovitz did know about the first attack,' Swonke said. 'It appears the cat just didn't like kids.'
Officers also have discovered Durkovitz is being sought by Hidalgo County authorities in connection with about $500 in bad checks.
