Gator prank at Northland Middle School under investigation, owner suspects theft

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The recent disappearance of a small alligator was not an escape but a crime, the alligator’s owner claims.

Eric Smith, owner of Thorni Ridge Exotics in Smithton, Missouri, said it would have been impossible for the 14-inch-long alligator to escape from its cage.

The alligator disappeared on May 23 during a petting zoo event at Lakeview Middle School in Northland.

He filed a report with the Kansas City, Missouri police after noticing the alligator’s disappearance.

Smith told KSHB 41 News that the inside of the alligator’s cage was lined with aluminum to prevent it from climbing up the side of the cage and escaping.

His company has worked at thousands of events involving different species of animals, and until last month, not a single animal had been lost or stolen.

“Someone must have helped,” Smith said.

In addition, like all its animals, the alligator was hand-raised, is calm and does not pose a danger to participants in the company’s events.

“The sad thing is that we have to be more restrictive,” Smith said.

Smith’s farm covers more than 20 hectares and is home to 45 species of animals.

The small alligator reappeared at the school’s back door 11 days after it was stolen with duct tape around its mouth, Smith said.

He said the tape around his mouth looked different than the tape that was around his mouth when he was kidnapped.

He said alligators can smell water and if the alligator had entered a pond or other body of water, the tape would have been removed.

Smith also said the alligator appeared to have eaten well and was in good condition.

The alligator is kept and cared for by the KC Pet Project, the city agency that issues permits for petting zoos, zookeepers and other animal-related activities.

The investigation is ongoing and Tori Fugate, spokeswoman for the KC Pet Project, said they hope to complete the work soon.

No subpoenas were issued.

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