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An autopsy on the
man, Matthew Riggins of Palm Bay, determined that he drowned in
November after an apparent alligator attack. A necropsy on the
alligator revealed parts of the man's body in the reptile's
stomach, according to a report released this week by the Brevard
County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's deputies chased Riggins and another suspect with dogs
and a helicopter on Nov. 13 after residents in the Barefoot Bay
community reported two men walking behind houses, authorities
said.
No suspects were caught that night. Riggins was reported missing
by his family when he did not return home, according to the
sheriff’s report. His body was found 10 days later floating in a
lake, with an aggressive gator standing guard, sheriff's Major
Tod Goodyear said.
"I believe he was hiding," Goodyear said of how Riggins ended up
in the lake. "With the dogs out there, it's not a bad idea to go
into the water."
Goodyear said Riggins had told his girlfriend by telephone that
he would be burglarizing homes the evening of Nov. 13 and later
told her he was being chased by deputies.
(Editing by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Will Dunham)
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