Human remains have been found in a 9-foot gator captured Tuesday night by a contract trapper with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), confirm Lakeland Police.
It’s believed to be the same gator that was seen with a man’s body Tuesday afternoon. The man’s identity is still unknown at this time.
- Alligator reported near man's body on shore of lake
- Cause of man's death undetermined
- Body may have been in water at least a day, police say
The man's body was found on the shore of a Lakeland lake with an alligator near the body, fire officials said.
A person called 911 to report seeing the body off Lake Hunter Drive.
Caller: “Hurry up. I got a dead boy over here at the lake."
Dispatcher: “Alright.”
Caller: “Looks like an alligator is trying to pull him down under.”
Dispatcher: “Alright stay on the phone with me.”
It's not clear how the man died or whether alligators attacked him at all before he died. Lakeland Police have not identified the man, who police say may have been in the lake for a day or more, police say.
"The first officer spotted that gator with what appeared to be a gator with a body in its mouth turning and thrashing in the water," Lakeland Police Public Information Officer Gary Gross said.
Police say the body is with the medical examiner and an autopsy was conducted Wednesday.