A shocking discovery was made when the remains of a woman who had been missing were found in the mouth of an alligator in Horsepen Bayou, near Houston, Texas. The woman, thought to be in her 60s, had last been seen going for a walk around 7:30 p.m. on May 27, 2024. Her remains were discovered by Houston police the next morning at around 8:40 a.m.
The Houston Police Department (HPD) had been actively searching for the woman when they stumbled upon the grim scene. Her remains were found along the banks of Horsepen Bayou near El Dorado and Park Estates.
An HPD sergeant shot and killed the alligator to prevent any further mutilation of the body. The department’s dive team was then tasked with recovering the remains. The identity of the woman and the cause of her death are currently being investigated.
Alligators are a common sight in the bayou areas around Houston, as locals often spot these large reptiles. A resident, Angela Derous, commented, “We see alligators that are 8 to 10 feet long. I know which areas to avoid and where they usually bask in the sun. This is the first time I’ve heard of such an incident happening here. It’s quite unsettling.”
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) lent a hand to HPD in the recovery operation. The TPWD’s Law Enforcement Division spokesperson, Maggie Berger, stated, “Our sympathies are with the woman’s family at this time.”
Attacks by alligators are not common in Texas. According to the TPWD, the last fatal alligator attack in the state happened in 2015 in Orange, Texas, where a 28-year-old man was killed while swimming in Adams Bayou. This marked the first fatal attack in more than 90 years.
While alligators typically steer clear of humans, an increase in their population means a higher likelihood of encounters with humans.
The TPWD underscores the necessity of safely cohabiting with alligators. They recommend not swimming at night, dusk, or dawn when alligators are most active. Keeping pets on a leash near water and refraining from feeding alligators are essential to prevent risky encounters. Feeding alligators can make them lose their natural fear of humans, making them more aggressive.
Investigations into the woman’s death are ongoing. Authorities are trying to ascertain if the alligator had a direct role in her death, or if she had died from other causes before the alligator found her.