In a chilling discovery near Houston, Texas, the remains of a woman, missing since the previous evening, were found trapped in the jaws of an alligator in the Horsepen Bayou area. The woman, who is estimated to be in her 60s, went for a walk around 7:30 p.m. on May 27, 2024. Her remains were discovered by Houston police early the following morning, at approximately 8:40 a.m.
While engaged in the search for the missing woman, the Houston Police Department (HPD) encountered the grim sight. The alligator was found chewing her remains near the water’s edge at Horsepen Bayou, close to El Dorado and Park Estates. An HPD sergeant killed the alligator to halt any further damage to the body. The department’s dive team was then able to retrieve the remains. The woman’s identity and the exact cause of her death remain under inquiry.
Alligators are a common sight in the bayous around Houston. Local residents are accustomed to seeing these large reptiles. A local named Angela Derous said, “We see alligators that are eight 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) supported the HPD in the recovery operation. A representative from the TPWD’s Law Enforcement Division, Maggie Berger, said, “Our sympathies are with the woman’s family at this time.”
Fatal alligator attacks are infrequent in Texas. According to information from the TPWD, the last deadly alligator attack in the state was recorded in 2015 in Orange, Texas. A 28-year-old man lost his life while swimming in Adams Bayou, marking the first fatality in over 90 years.
While these reptiles usually shy away from human contact, the increasing population of alligators has led to a rise in human encounters.
The TPWD emphasizes the need for humans to coexist with alligators safely. Their guidelines suggest avoiding swimming at times when alligators are most active, such as dusk, dawn, and night. They also advise keeping pets leashed near water bodies and refraining from feeding alligators, which can make them less fearful and more aggressive towards humans.
The investigation into the circumstances of the woman’s death is still underway. Authorities are trying to ascertain if the alligator was directly involved in the woman’s death, or if she had already passed away from other causes before the alligator found her.
