A woman found dead in a Florida waterway after a suspected alligator attack has been identified by authorities.
Sabrina Peckham, 41, is thought to have been killed by a male alligator measuring nearly 14 feet in length.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was called to a report of a body in a canal in Largo around 1.50pm on Friday.
Eyewitnesses claimed the body was found in the jaws of the alligator.
“With the assistance of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), a 13-foot, 8.5-inch male alligator was humanely killed and removed from the waterway,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“The deceased victim has been identified as 41-year-old Sabrina Peckham,” it later added.
The cause and circumstances of Ms Peckham’s death have not yet been confirmed. A post mortem is expected to be carried out, and an investigation remains underway.
Her next of kin has been notified.
Ms Peckham’s daughter, Breauna Dorris, wrote on Facebook her mother was”part of the homeless population that lived in the nearby wooded area”.
“It is believed that she may have been walking to or from her camp site near the creek in the dark and the alligator attacked from the water,” wrote Ms Dorris.
“No one deserves to die like this.”
Addressing her mother, she continued: “I love you more than I ever expressed, I miss you more than you’ll ever know and I pray that you are looking down over me and your grandchildren. Please protect us.
“I’m so sorry this happened to you. I pray you are at peace and you are no longer struggling or hurting. I pray you found momo and pop and you all are watching down from above.”
A Gofundme page raising money for Ms Peckham’s funeral has raised more than $5,800 (£4,700) by Monday.
“We will be using the funds raised from the gofund me to put my mother to rest in our family plot,” Ms Dorris said on Facebook. “My mother only being 41, we had not expected to do this anytime soon. We expected to have many many more years with her.”
