Alligator killed after Florida woman’s body found in jaws

Miami, United States – An alligator was killed when it was recovered from a creek in the US state of Florida along with the body of a 41-year-old woman, officials said on Saturday.

Police said they responded to a report of a body seen in the creek in Largo, Florida, and that the 14-foot-long, 8.5-inch (4-meter) male alligator was “humanely killed” on Friday.

Officers identified the body Saturday but said “the manner and cause of death are pending” and the investigation was ongoing.

READ: Gator with missing nose and upper jaw finds new home at Florida reptile park

Witness Jamarcus Bullard told US media that he saw a large alligator and a body in the creek, and ran to a nearby fire station to report it.

“I threw a rock at the alligator, just to see if it really looked like an alligator,” Bullard told WFLA-TV, an NBC News affiliate, on Friday. “It pulled on the body, like it was holding the lower part of the torso, and just pulled it underwater.”

Bullard said the alligator put up a vigorous fight against authorities.

READ: Alligator caught chasing people in Florida fast food parking lot

“They put a rope around his neck and put him on a pulley of a truck,” he said. “They were pulling him in, but he started pulling the truck into the water.

“They got a thing with a long stick, pulled the head out of the water, shot it and once they got it all the way out, they stretched it out and measured it 13 feet long and shot it again,” Bullard said.

Alligators are common in the southeastern United States, especially in Florida.

In July, a 69-year-old woman was killed by an alligator near a lagoon in South Carolina. Police said the animal was guarding her body and stopping rescuers.

READ: South Florida officers find two alligators eating human body