Authorities in Florida have said that a suspected burglar has been killed by an 11ft alligator. The burglar is thought to have hidden from officers in a pond following thefts at a Florida community. Matthew Riggins (22) had told his girlfriend he would be in Barefoot Bay to carry out a number of burglaries.
Brevard County Sheriff’s Major Tod Goodyear said authorities received calls on 13 November about two suspicious men dressed in black walking behind homes in the area. Riggins called his girlfriend to tell her they were being chased and were hiding. Riggins was reported missing the following day. His body was found on 23 November floating in a pond.
Mr Goodyear said “He probably went into the lake to hide from the officers and the dog, and came across that gator. To hide somewhere to try and get away, and then meeting up with an animal like that, no, I’ve never had that happen before.”
The alligator was later trapped and euthanised according to authorities. The man’s hand and foot were reportedly found inside the alligator’s stomach.