Nebraska Toddler Killed By A Gator
ORLANDO – Today at around 1:45 p.m. law authorities found the body of a 2-year-old boy who was dragged off by an alligator Tuesday night at Disney resort. The boy was identified as Lane Graves, who was brought to the Seven Seas Lagoon, on a family vacation from Nebraska. His parents Matt and Melissa Graves, were informed by authorities of their son’s death
The Nebraska toddler was playing in the water on a beach area near Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at 9:16 p.m. Tuesday when the alligator snatched him and pulled him underwater in front of his horrified parents. The father tried to get his son back, but wasn’t able to,
Demings said the boy’s body was found at about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, and the remains were fully recovered at about 3:30 p.m.
The grisly discovery brought to a close a search that involved more than 50 law enforcement officials, including Marine units who relied on sonar equipment to look for the boy in the lake. Initially a search-and-rescue operation, Demings said at a noon press conference there was “no question” the boy was dead after so many hours underwater and that the hunt had turned into a recovery effort.
But he had vowed to continue searching until the boy’s body was found.
“I just happen to have a 2-year-old grandson, so for me, this is a very human experience that we are talking about, where we are dealing with this family now who there’s no question will lose a 2-year-old child,” he said.
The alligator was described as between four and seven feet long. Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, had said earlier Wednesday that at least five alligators had been trapped and euthanized for analysis. He told reporters it wasn’t possible to examine the alligators without killing them first.
“They have to be euthanized to be analyzed,” he said, adding that his agency has a “very good, close working relationship” with Disney to remove nuisance alligators.”
