A man who found an alligator carrying a woman in its mouth has spoken out and said he initially thought the body was a mannequin.
JaMarcus Bullard was on his way to a job interview when he came across a 14ft alligator carrying a lifeless woman in its mouth in Largo, Florida.
According to Tampa Fox affiliate WTVT, emergency crews were immediately dispatched to the park.
Florida Fish and Wildlife officers engaged in a difficult battle against the alligator to retrieve the woman’s body.
Sharing the disturbing encounter, it has been confirmed by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office that the reptile was humanely euthanized.
Speaking about the traumatic experience, Bullard told WTVT: “I noticed it had a body in its mouth, like a lower torso. So once I realized that, I ran straight to the fire department and got them. They confirmed there was a body.”
The man said he never encountered an alligator before and he initially thought that the reptile had a mannequin.
“It looked pale and white,” he described. But because there was a local school and a Boys and Girls Club nearby, he realized the gravity of the situation.
“All I can think about is all of these little kids that go to the school right behind me. They come this way every single day,” he said.
The adult has been identified as Sabrina Peckham, 41, the Medical Examiner’s Office said.
Peckham’s grieving daughter, Breauna Dorris, took to social media and wrote: “No matter how you put it, no one deserves to die like this.”
She also posted on GoFundMe: “The past 24 hours have been filled with grief and sorrow and unbearable pain for our family.
“My mother, Sabrina Peckham was the victim of the alligator attack at McCay Creek (rainbow village). Please understand that we do not have all information yet as the medical examiners report is not yet finished.”
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