A body was found Tuesday in the mouth of a gator in Lakeland, police said.
The body, which belonged to a male, has not been identified, according to the Lakeland Police Department.
“It appears – prematurely, a little early – that maybe this body was in the lake more than a day from looking at the body,” said Sgt. Gary Gross, Lakeland police spokesman, in a video from the scene. “It doesn’t appear to have just occurred.”
The gator and body were found in Lake Hunter near 1 Lake Hunter Drive. Police arrived and confirmed the gator had a body.
The animal let the body go and swam away, police said.
The body has been since removed from the water. Police said the state will likely attempt to trap the gator.
Body has been pulled out of the water. Unk victim. Detectives on the scene. Press release will be sent out later pic.twitter.com/8mt66K8tYj
— Sgt. Gary B Gross (@GaryBGross) June 7, 2016