An alligator measuring nearly 13 feet and 9 inches was killed in Largo, Florida, after being spotted with human remains in its mouth. The body was later identified as an unhoused woman named Sabrina Peckham, 41.
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JaMarcus Bullard Initially Thought The Alligator Had A “Mannequin Body” In Its Mouth
According to FOX 13 Tampa Bay, the situation came to public attention on Friday (Sept. 22) after a bystander named JaMarcus Bullard spotted a gator that appeared to have something in its jaws.
While he initially thought the alligator had a “mannequin body” in its jaws, a closer inspection prompted a macabre realization.
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“I noticed it had a body in its mouth. Like, a literal torso. So, once I saw that, I ran straight to the fire department and got them. They confirmed it was a body.”
The animal was ultimately euthanized thanks to a dual effort from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The publication also reports that the PCSO Dive Team recovered the human remains, which were later identified as belonging to Sabrina Peckham.
At this point, we should note that a coroner has not yet confirmed Peckham’s exact cause of death.
Sabrina Peckham’s Daughter Speaks Out, Calls Situation A “Nightmare”
As the public awaits an official cause of death, FOX 13 Tampa Bay reports that Sabrina Peckham’s daughter — Breauna Dorris, 23 — spoke out to acknowledge, “Nobody expects to hear that your mother died under these circumstances.”
Dorris noted that Peckham would drop by her home every day to visit her grandchildren. As a result, she knew something was off when her mother didn’t show up on Thursday or Friday. The alligator news exacerbated this sentiment.
“I knew that she was out here. Before her name was even released or she was identified. I knew there were news articles going around about a gator with a human body part in its mouth.”
Dorris added that while her mother “chose the wrong path in life,” she wants people to remember her kindness.
“My mother chose the wrong path in life for sure. She was selfless. One hundred percent selfless. She was homeless herself. But that didn’t matter. She would give you the last piece of food off her plate. She would give you the shirt off her back if she needed to.”
After acknowledging that a stranger crafted a memorial in Peckham’s honor, Dorris somberly said, “Knowing that’s how she went…it wasn’t painless. It wasn’t fast. It wasn’t easy. She struggled.”
