The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in Florida has released body cam footage depicting the aftermath of an alligator attack that left a 41-year-old woman dead.
Knewz.com has learned that the alligator responsible for the woman’s death, measuring 13 feet and 9.5 inches, was subsequently euthanized and cut open to remove the woman’s remains.
The information released by FWC pertains to September 2023 and indicates that the victim, Sabrina Peckham, was wild camping yards from the McKay Creek canal in Pinellas County, Florida.
The offending alligator was located in the same canal, bound with tape and chains before being shot and then dragged out.
Leading up to the animal’s death a passerby named Jamarcus Bullard spotted the reptile with what looked like a human in its mouth.
He told Fox13: “I noticed it had a body in its mouth, like a lower torso, so once I saw that, I ran straight to the fire department and got them, they confirmed it was a body.”
The FWC report indicated there was no sign that the alligator came onto the campgrounds, making it unclear when the animal came into contact with Peckham.
Perhaps a clue to the latter is a report by a ranger who claimed to have spotted the victim walking near the canal.
The late Peckam’s daughter, Breanna Dorris, weighed in on the FWC release saying: “It's surreal, but I'm super grateful her community can pull together in time like this. It shows we have an amazing support team behind us in times of tragedy.”
The Pinellas County administration has since fenced off the creek which connects the nearby Ridgecrest and Taylor Lakes as it is known to be used by alligators to travel between the two.
Knewz.com reported the incident when it first took place and noted that Peckham was homeless at the time.
Her daughter launched a GoFundMe campaign for her mother.
It noted: “I’m fundraising for the sudden, tragic loss of my mother Sabrina Peckham. Sabrina lost her life suddenly after being attacked by a 13 foot alligator. Sabrina was loved by many and we expected many many more years with her. Our family is in shambles trying to cope with this kind of loss.”
“Sabrina only being 41 and homeless at the time had no funeral or death arrangements set up. We will be using the funds raised for crematory expenses and laying her to rest in our family plot.”
According to a study in 2019, Peckham’s case is rare.
“Unprovoked alligator attacks do occasionally happen and should not be downplayed, however most are preventable and the fatality rate is low,” the paper titled How likely are you to be attacked by an alligator in Florida – during a hurricane or under any circumstance? stated.
“Roughly 4% of alligator attacks on humans in the United States have resulted in death, a majority of which occurred in Florida.”
