 Duvalier also held in his closet the head of former opponent Blucher Philogenes, who tried to overthrow him in 1963.He believed another political enemy, Clément Barbot, was able to change into a black dog at will and had the militia begin killing black dogs on sight in the capital.François Duvalier died of heart disease and diabetes on 21 April 1971, seven days after his 64th birthday.