• Robert McKenna, 43, told neighbors he was in the diamonds and gold trade in Africa
• He said he was a big game hunter in Africa
• Neighbors said his home was filled with taxidermy, including a stuffed alligator
• Police say he was targeted and robbed
• He died of blood loss in horrific scene with blood all over house
By KIRI BLAKELEY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
A man who dealt in diamonds and gold in Africa was murdered in his suburban Massachusetts home, say police.
Robert McKenna, 43, died from severe blood loss on Wednesday after he murdered in his sprawling house.
Police believe he was targeted and robbed. They have not yet determined exactly how he died.
Neighbors say McKenna was a man of mystery who appeared in the quaint town of Marshfield, Massachusetts two years ago, paying $750,000 cash for his 2,8000 square-foot abode not far from the ocean.
His broker, Betsy Hines, told the Boston Herald that McKenna explained that he'd been in the gold and diamonds trade in Africa, and that he'd sold an apartment in New York.
He also told her he'd been in the anti-poaching business in Africa, and told another neighbor he'd been a big game hunter.
He reportedly spoke openly about being wealthy and being a diamond runner, according to CBS Boston.
He moved into the home with no furniture, saying he would have it shipped over from Africa - including his elephant foot table.
He eventually filled his home with taxidermied animal heads, wooden masks, and a stuffed alligator.
He told another neighbor he had a diamond the size of a golf ball, according to the Boston Globe.
His tall tales and boasting some neighbors loved, but others found 'bizarre' and didn't know how many of his larger-than-life stories were real, reports the Boston Globe.
Still other neighbors admired him greatly.
'You just don't meet somebody like him in your lifetime very often,' said devastated neighbor Ivy Frances. 'You just don't meet somebody as kind and generous and full of life.'
A neighbor said he heard a car peeling away from the murder scene around 3am and someone calling to McKenna's dog.
The Boston Globe reported that McKenna had to hunting dogs, and they both began to bark furiously and crashing noises were heard.
One neighbor said he went to investigate but as he got closer to McKenna's property, the dogs quieted down. Thinking the man had simply gotten his dogs under control, he left.
Later that day, a friend who had plans with McKenna dropped by and found the gruesome scene.
Police say they are looking for two suspects.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Marshfield Police at (781) 834-6655 or Massachusetts State Police at (508) 923-4000.