Burglary suspect hiding in Florida pond killed by 11-foot alligator, authorities say

ORLANDO, Fla. – A 22-year-old burglary suspect trying to evade authorities was killed by an 11-foot alligator last month, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies said Matthew Riggins drowned as a result of the gator attack. He was missing his lower extremities and part of an arm, according to deputies.

Riggins and another man were in Barefoot Bay to commit house burglaries in the late evening hours of Nov. 12 and early morning hours of Nov. 13. A resident called deputies around 2 a.m. to say the two men, dressed in black, were walking behind houses near Tequesta Drive.

Riggins and the other man were spotted on Royal Palm Boulevard, but they fled. A K-9 and helicopter search was unsuccessful.

According to deputies, Riggins called his girlfriend to say he was being chased by authorities.

Riggins was reported missing later on Nov. 13 after he didn’t come home. His body was found in a Barefoot Bay lake just north of Ocean Avenue Way on Nov. 23.

While sheriff dive team members were recovering Riggins’ body, they encountered a large gator “aggressively approaching” them.

The gator was trapped by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and euthanized.

“A forensic examination of the alligator located remains consistent with the injuries to Riggins inside the alligator’s stomach,” deputies said.