Woman’s body found in alligator’s mouth in Houston area bayou

HOUSTON — Houston homicide detectives are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in the mouth of an alligator Tuesday morning.

It happened in the Clear Lake area, and on Wednesday, a day after the discovery, KHOU 11 News obtained police dispatch audio from the moment officers made the gruesome discovery.

The alligator and the woman’s body were found in Horsepen Bayou and police said it was still too early to rule out foul play.

RELATED: Clear Lake woman’s remains found in alligator’s mouth after going missing

A small bouquet was placed on the bridge which spans the bayou. This is the only remaining sign that something terrible happened there.

“God bless the lady who lost her life. God is on her side.”

That’s what the handwritten message says.

Police said the woman’s husband reported her missing Tuesday morning. He told them she had been gone since 7:30 p.m. Monday, when she went for a walk and never came home.

The first police audio recording was made shortly after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, while police were searching for him in the bayou.

They finally found her about an hour later – her remains in the mouth of an alligator. That’s when officers called for backup in the form of a high-powered rifle.

Officers eventually killed the alligator and a dive team recovered the woman’s remains. It is now up to the police to determine exactly what happened.

One of the questions investigators are trying to answer is whether the alligator attacked and killed the woman or if she was already dead when he found her. Police said they were awaiting autopsy results to determine how she died before jumping to conclusions.