Death investigation: Woman’s body found in alligator’s mouth in Clear Lake after woman was reported missing, officials say

CLEAR LAKE, Texas (KTRK) – Sources told ABC13 that a woman’s body was found in the mouth of an alligator in Clear Lake on Tuesday morning.

Houston police responded to the banks of Horsepen Bayou near El Dorado and Park Estates. Sources said the female victim had been reported missing overnight. Police euthanized the alligator.

A neighbor sent ABC13 some photos of the police operation.

In a statement to ABC13, Maggie Berger, a spokeswoman for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division, wrote: “On May 28, Texas wildlife officers assisted the Houston Police Department (HPD) in recovering human remains found near an alligator. The woman’s cause of death has not yet been determined. HPD is currently investigating the incident and will be the lead agency. Our thoughts are with the woman’s family during this time.”

An autopsy will determine how the woman died. The HPD Homicide Unit has been assigned to the case.

“They live down there. We see babies that are 8 to 10 feet long. I know which banks to stay away from and where they like to sunbathe,” said Angela Derous after fishing in the bayou Tuesday night. “This is the first time I’ve heard of something like this happening down here. It’s a little scary.”

Fatal alligator attacks are very rare in Texas. The last one occurred in Orange in 2015. A 28-year-old man died while swimming in Adams Bayou. It was the first fatal attack in more than 90 years.

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