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Stomachs Of Alligators To Be Examined In Missing-Boy Search

Trapper Called To Remove 8-Foot Alligator

POSTED: Monday, September 18, 2006
UPDATED: 2:22 pm EDT October 26, 2006

The Marion County Sheriff's Office asked the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to catch at least one large alligator in an area where crews are searching for a missing boy, according to a news release.

Authorities continued their fourth day of searching near Farles Lake in the Ocala National Forest for 2-year-old Trenton Duckett.

Trenton was reported missing 22 days ago by his mother, Melinda Duckett, who committed suicide more than a week ago.

On Monday afternoon, a trapper will attempt to catch an 8-foot alligator spotted near Farles Lake.

If alligators are captured, their stomachs will be examined for any evidence such as bone, fabric and hair remnants, the Florida Fish and Wildlife release said.

The report said the alligator has not posed a threat to search divers, but investigators want to rule out any possibilities.

"There are not a lot of alligators in Farles Lake, and again, there is no information linking an alligator to Trenton's disappearance," the release said.

Search Continues

Authorities continued their fourth day of searching near Farles Lake in the Ocala National Forest with dive teams, search dogs and ground crews.

"It is very treacherous work," Marion County sheriff's Capt. James Pogue said. "The water is murky. It is not like swimming in a swimming pool, where you see everything when you go underwater. It is really just a touch-and-feel-type of game."

Searchers have been in the area after a tipster said he saw and possibly talked with Melinda Duckett.

Searchers formed a human dragnet around Farles Lake Sunday but found nothing.

More than 150 officers and volunteers, 17 cadaver dogs and a helicopter were used in the search near the Farles Lake area of the forest.

Hundreds Of Tips

Local 6 News reported that since the boy vanished on Aug. 27, tips have come in by the hundreds, but there are still more to check out, according to police.

"We are still trying to firm up Melinda's timeline in the 24 to 48 hours prior to the abduction," Leesburg police Capt. Steve Rockefeller said.

Leesburg police said a multiagency task force is working other routine leads and plans to regroup Monday and Tuesday to plot a new course in the search for the toddler.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

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