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Davie Police: Alligator Spotted Feeding On Human Remains Found In Canal

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DAVIE (CBSMiami) – Two fishermen made a gruesome discovery Monday in a canal on the edge of the Everglades.

According to Davie police, the duo found a human body with at least one alligator feeding on it. Police said the fishermen immediately called 911.

"In my time at Davie, I've never come across a case where you have alligators getting at remains but I'm sure it's happened before," said Sgt. Pablo Castaneda.

Castaneda said it appeared one gator – possibly more – fed on the remains but that the body appeared largely intact once it was brought out of the water.

Davie police divers recovered the remains and searched in the murky water for any clues about who the person might be.

"We're not able to determine male or female," Castaneda said. "We're not able to determine race."

Police officers with assault rifles and gator trappers stood watch as divers checked the water in case a gator got too close. However, police told CBS4 no gators were harmed.

The Broward County Medical Examiner and Davie police will work to solve the mystery of who this person was and how they got there.

"What happened to them? How did they end up here? Could it be a homicide, could it be a suicide, could it be natural, a fisherman? We don't know. That's what the next step is to figure that out," Castaneda said.

Police said it appears the body had been in the water for at least a few days.

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