Florida Woman Found in Alligator's Jaws Had History of Trespassing on Wetlands
In a shocking incident in Largo, Florida, a woman's body was discovered inside the jaws of a massive 13-foot alligator. Authorities have identified the woman as 41-year-old Sabrina Peckham. Disturbingly, this isn't the first time Peckham had been associated with the wetlands; she had previously been detained for trespassing on county marshland property.
The grim discovery was made in a canal on a residential street in Largo, a small town located just south of Clearwater. Court records indicate that Peckham, who was homeless, was arrested by Pinellas County deputies on July 14th for trespassing on a county marsh. This location was alarmingly close to where her body was found last Friday. Following her arrest, she was released on September 8th after being fined $500 for pleading no contest to the misdemeanor charge.
Peckham's history with law enforcement wasn't limited to this incident. Records show that she had multiple run-ins with the police since 2014, including several trespassing offenses. Additionally, she faced multiple charges related to narcotics and theft.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. Investigators are currently working to determine if the alligator was responsible for her death or if she had possibly overdosed on drugs before being consumed by the reptile.
The massive alligator, measuring 13 feet and 8.5 inches, was first spotted by a passerby who was reportedly heading to a job interview. He promptly alerted the local fire station. In response, authorities "humanely killed" the alligator, though there are conflicting reports from local residents who claim the alligator was pulled from the water and shot multiple times.
The area where the incident occurred is in proximity to Ridgecrest Park, which boasts a 5-acre lake known to be inhabited by alligators. Local residents have mentioned that while alligator sightings are common, the one involved in this tragic incident was one of the largest they had ever witnessed.
