Residents in east Orange County are frustrated by a disgusting find — and a disgusting smell.
- PICTURES: Click here to see pictures from the lot (Warning: Some of the images may be graphic.)
A large pile of animal remains — believed to be goats — and trash were dumped in a vacant lot next to homes along Riverdale Road.
"Fur, guts, bladder sacs," said Sybil Roberts, who was alerted to the rotting pile by another neighbor Tuesday. "I mean, it's disgusting."
Roberts took photos of the putrid pile, including one showing a yellow tag stuck to fur. She thinks the animals are livestock and are possibly from a slaughterhouse, but she can't imagine the person who dumped the pile — which she described as the size of an SUV — would be anyone local.
"It's a dead-end street," Roberts said. "Everybody knows each other, they know the vehicles that come down it."
Photos from a neighbor's surveillance camera show a white truck in the area. Roberts is convinced that it's the person responsible, but they can't be sure.
"Nothing as far as I know is going to happen at this point," she said, as she gestured to the hordes of vultures picking at the pile Thursday. "Guess they're going to clean it up. They're not the cleanest of animals, but they are the cleanup crew."
The Orange County Sheriff's Office opened a criminal investigation into the illegal dumping and shared the report with us on Tuesday. The Sheriff's Office has not released any information regarding leads or charges the person who dumped the pile might face.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said they received a complaint, but they didn't believe it to be a wildlife case.
Orange County Code Enforcement officials said the case was not within their jurisdiction.
Down the street, Suly Lugo wears a mask to keep her safe as she rakes leaves in her yard.
"I'm cleaning more. Lysol," she said. "You (have to) protect yourself."
Some vultures have migrated to Lugo's yard and nested in trees. She said she's concerned that they will spread disease and could be sickened by the rotting smell. She's also surprised that no one has cleaned up the mess.
"We have to do something about it," Lugo said. "Who can help us to solve this situation that we have?"
Warning: Graphic pictures below
A photo of the pile of animal carcasses. (Photo by Sybil Roberts)
(Photo by Sybil Roberts)
Sybil Roberts looks at what's left of the pile on Thursday, April 7, 2016, in east Orange County. (Julie Gargotta, Staff)
(Julie Gargotta, Staff)
(Julie Gargotta, Staff)