Alligator trapped after being found with body in mouth, cops say

Polk County deputies investigate possible deadly gator attack

LAKELAND, Fla. – Authorities have captured an alligator in the lake where a gator was spotted with a body in its mouth, but it's not clear if the one that was trapped was  involved. 

Lakeland police spokesman Gary Gross says officers responded to Lake Hunter on Tuesday afternoon following a report of an alligator with a body in its mouth.

[MORE: Body appeared to be in lake for more than a day | Scroll below for 911 calls: WARNING, CONTENT MAY BE GRAPHIC]

Officers were able to retrieve the body, and Gross says a trapper was called to capture the 8-foot reptile. Gross says the body appears to be an adult male, but police weren't sure.

It wasn't known if the alligator killed the person or simply found the dead body. Gross says a medical examiner will have to determine the cause of death.

The victim has not been identified.

Police said on Wednesday that it's unknown if the 9 foot gator that was captured Tuesday night was involved.

Last week, two fishermen discovered alligators eating a dead man in a South Florida canal.

 

 


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