The Sheriff’s Department in Brevard County, Florida, say that a man that they had been pursuing as a burglary suspect there on November 13th, managed to avoid them, but was not as lucky with the wildlife in nearby Barefoot Bay Lake, it was reported. The partial remains of 22-year-old Matthew Riggins was fished out of  the lake 10 days later, on November 23rd.

Deputies were called in at 2 am on November 13th after a resident called in reporting that two men, dressed in black clothing, were skulking through the area behind homes at that location. As authorities were investigating the area, the two men spotted the deputies and fled the area. All attempts to locate them failed.

Authorities would later find out that Riggins had contacted his girlfriend first telling her that he and a friend had gone to the area to commit burglaries. He would contact her again and report that he and his accomplice were being pursued by authorities with the sheriff’s department. According to authorities, Riggins hid in the lake to avoid being apprehended.

The following morning, Riggins was reported as missing by his girlfriend after he did not return home.

The remains of the burglary suspect were discovered 10 days later.

As divers were retrieving Riggin’s remains from the lake, they encountered a very aggressive 11-foot alligator approaching the location of the body. The injuries to the corpse indicated that he had fallen victim to a gator attack and so, the decision was made to euthanize the beast. Florida Fish and Game responded and the alligator was dispatched.

An inspection of the alligator’s stomach would reveal portions of the suspect inside. An autopsy performed on Riggins revealed that Riggins had drowned. Bite marks on Riggins were consistent with him being drug underwater by an alligator.

Riggins had successfully eluded the deputies, but was unsuccessful in avoiding the attention and appetite of the gator.

Investigators located the man they believe was out burglarizing with Riggins. That man has been uncooperative with the investigators. He has not been charged with any crime.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]

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  alligator, attack, brevard county, burglary, deputies, florida, gator, matthew riggins, sheriffs, suspect