“Officials” have proclaimed all those sightings to be mistakes.
Same thing in coastal Mississippi and Alabama. Big cats have been seen and heard there for decades, but 'officials' simply dismiss the sightings.
Friend of mine in Alabama bow-hunted every year in the Alabama River bottoms in Monroe County.
One day, around dusk, he put an arrow into a deer. He tried to track it in the dark, then called a couple of friends in to help him find it.
An hour-or-so later, they found it. It appeared to be buried in leaves, with just the legs sticking out.
As they approached the carcass, they heard a low growl -- and somebody's flashlight caught the eyes.
They made an instant and unanimous decision to retreat to camp...and leave the prey to the superior predator.
Nobody slept well that night, I'm told.