PALM BAY, F.L. — Police say a suspected burglar was killed by an alligator while hiding in a Florida pond to avoid arrest.
Matthew Riggins, 22 fled from police after allegedly breaking into a house. He called his girlfriend to tell her he was being chased- he’d previously told her he was going to break into homes with another unidentified man.
His body was later discovered floating in a lake in Barefoot Bay.
The 11-foot-long alligator reponsible for Riggins’ death had to be euthanized as Riggins’ corpse was being recovered, according to Florida reports.
“He hid in the wrong place,” local resident Laura Farris told Florida reporters.
Riggins’ alleged accomplice was arrested soon after.
