A Florida woman was fatally mauled by an alligator Sunday in a Valrico pond where she had been regularly swimming, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies were called to the pond at around 8:30 p.m. on July 4 after the mutilated body of the 29-year-old victim washed up.
Authorities declined to confirm reports of an alligator attack but relatives and police sources said the woman had injuries that indicated she crossed paths with a killer gator.
“What a tragic ending to the 4th of July holiday for this woman’s family and friends,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
“I want to thank our local partners for their cooperation with this investigation as we work to learn what led up to her death.”
Now, police fear that more fatalities would occur at the retention pond located just behind the Landings Bar & Grill as the area is known for being gator-frequented.
“You’re at the breeding season and basically the females are laying eggs and nesting. It could definitely be a bad situation for someone in the water,” trapper Chad Matthews said.
“There’s a gator in there that’s probably between eight and nine-foot, at least a couple of years ago. It’s been there for years, as far as I know. I do know that people liked to throw marshmallows and feed the gator.”
