A Houston police officer shot and killed an alligator after it was found with the remains of a missing woman in its mouth Tuesday, officials said.
Houston officers were searching for the woman, who was believed to be in her 60s, Tuesday morning when they discovered the animal in the Horsepen Bayou outside Houston.
An officer then fatally shot the alligator "to prevent it from doing more damage to the remains," in its mouth, Houston police said.
An alligator in Port Arthur, Texas, on Nov. 9, 2006. Steve Campbell / Houston Chronicle via Getty Images file
Police recovered the woman's remains, authorities said, and they are waiting on autopsy results to determine the cause of death.
It is not clear whether the alligator killed the woman or whether the woman was already dead when it came upon her, police said.
The woman's identity is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
elephant35e on May 30th, 2024 at 04:28 UTC »
This happened only a few miles from where I live. People who live here KNOW that there are gators in these lakes. I'm betting that that woman did not swim in the lake.
RedditByAnyOtherName on May 30th, 2024 at 03:17 UTC »
Officer, I don’t know how that got there! I’ve never seen these remains in my life!
Plainchant on May 30th, 2024 at 02:32 UTC »
Article By Rebecca Cohen:
By Rebecca Cohen A Houston police officer shot and killed an alligator after it was found with the remains of a missing woman in its mouth Tuesday, officials said.
Houston officers were searching for the woman, who was believed to be in her 60s, Tuesday morning when they discovered the animal in the Horsepen Bayou outside Houston.
An officer then fatally shot the alligator "to prevent it from doing more damage to the remains," in its mouth, Houston police said.
Police recovered the woman's remains from the area, authorities said, and are waiting on autopsy results to determine the cause of death.
It is not clear whether the alligator killed the woman or if the woman was already dead when the alligator came upon her, police said.
The incident is under investigation.
The woman's identity is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.