June 14, 24
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By Asiya Ali
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Harrowing footage reveals the heartbreaking moments after a 14ft alligator ate a 41-year-old mom.
Last September, Sabrina Peckham's body was found in the jaws of a 14-foot alligator who had attacked her and dragged her to a nearby body of water along a residential street in Largo, Florida.
Authorities were alerted after a concerned local witness named Jamarcus Bullard spotted the vicious animal with what initially looked like a mannequin in its mouth.
"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," he told Fox13 News. "It was pale and white," telling outlets that the beast was "just clamped onto it, and swam backward to the bottom of the canal... I just couldn't believe it was real".
Peckham's body was found dead in the jaws of a 14-foot male alligator. Credit: Roger Lisenko / 500px / Getty
Peckham was reported to have been homeless at the time and living in an encampment near a canal where the predator was later found.
Once emergency service arrived on the scene along with the assistance of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, they removed the alligator from the area and "humanely killed" it.
Deputies assigned to the case also discovered human remains inside which were later confirmed to be that of Peckham.
A few months after the deadly attack, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released horrific footage after Peckham's untimely death.
The clip began with authorities locating the camp where the late mom had been living, which was situated around 35-45 ft from the canal.
It then showed the huge animal surrounded by police moments after it was "humanely" killed. Its stomach is visibly swollen with the deceased inside.
Furthermore, officials also shared a clip of the moment the alligator was gunned down. "Watch them, watch them," a voice is heard shouting before the trigger is pulled.
The alligator was removed from the area and "humanely killed". Credit: John Coletti / Getty
According to Fox13 News, Peckham's family revealed that they last saw her a day before the attack, telling police that she didn't show any signs of being in the water or coming into contact with an alligator.
A park ranger also claimed that they saw the woman walking around the canal - which connects two alligator-infested lakes - a week earlier.
Many people speculated that Peckham provoked the alligator, but her daughter, Breauna Dorris, debunked the rumors in a heartbreaking post shared a few days after her mom was killed.
"Hi all," she penned. "The past 24 hours have been filled with grief and sorrow and unbearable pain for our family. I’m posting this to put rumors to rest and ask for everyone’s help."
The teen stated that her mom did not “taunt” the alligator, explaining: "My mother was apart of the homeless population that lived in the nearby wooded area. It is believed that she may have been walking to or from her campsite near the creek in the dark and the alligator attacked from the water."
"My mother only being 41, we had not expected to do this anytime soon. We expected to have many many more years with her. Unfortunately, god has called her home sooner than our hearts were ready," she continued.
Breauna then expressed her love for her mom, adding: "I’m so sorry this happened to you. I pray you are at peace and you are no longer struggling or hurting. I pray you found momo and pop and you all are watching down from above."
Our thoughts continue to be with Peckham's loved ones.
Featured image credit: Pilesasmiles / Getty
June 14, 24
Save
By Asiya Ali
Article saved!Article saved!
Harrowing footage reveals the heartbreaking moments after a 14ft alligator ate a 41-year-old mom.
Last September, Sabrina Peckham's body was found in the jaws of a 14-foot alligator who had attacked her and dragged her to a nearby body of water along a residential street in Largo, Florida.
Authorities were alerted after a concerned local witness named Jamarcus Bullard spotted the vicious animal with what initially looked like a mannequin in its mouth.
"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," he told Fox13 News. "It was pale and white," telling outlets that the beast was "just clamped onto it, and swam backward to the bottom of the canal... I just couldn't believe it was real".
Peckham's body was found dead in the jaws of a 14-foot male alligator. Credit: Roger Lisenko / 500px / Getty
Peckham was reported to have been homeless at the time and living in an encampment near a canal where the predator was later found.
Once emergency service arrived on the scene along with the assistance of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, they removed the alligator from the area and "humanely killed" it.
Deputies assigned to the case also discovered human remains inside which were later confirmed to be that of Peckham.
A few months after the deadly attack, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released horrific footage after Peckham's untimely death.
The clip began with authorities locating the camp where the late mom had been living, which was situated around 35-45 ft from the canal.
It then showed the huge animal surrounded by police moments after it was "humanely" killed. Its stomach is visibly swollen with the deceased inside.
Furthermore, officials also shared a clip of the moment the alligator was gunned down. "Watch them, watch them," a voice is heard shouting before the trigger is pulled.
The alligator was removed from the area and "humanely killed". Credit: John Coletti / Getty
According to Fox13 News, Peckham's family revealed that they last saw her a day before the attack, telling police that she didn't show any signs of being in the water or coming into contact with an alligator.
A park ranger also claimed that they saw the woman walking around the canal - which connects two alligator-infested lakes - a week earlier.
Many people speculated that Peckham provoked the alligator, but her daughter, Breauna Dorris, debunked the rumors in a heartbreaking post shared a few days after her mom was killed.
"Hi all," she penned. "The past 24 hours have been filled with grief and sorrow and unbearable pain for our family. I’m posting this to put rumors to rest and ask for everyone’s help."
The teen stated that her mom did not “taunt” the alligator, explaining: "My mother was apart of the homeless population that lived in the nearby wooded area. It is believed that she may have been walking to or from her campsite near the creek in the dark and the alligator attacked from the water."
"My mother only being 41, we had not expected to do this anytime soon. We expected to have many many more years with her. Unfortunately, god has called her home sooner than our hearts were ready," she continued.
Breauna then expressed her love for her mom, adding: "I’m so sorry this happened to you. I pray you are at peace and you are no longer struggling or hurting. I pray you found momo and pop and you all are watching down from above."
Our thoughts continue to be with Peckham's loved ones.
