Newly released body camera footage captures the aftermath of a fatal alligator attack on Sabrina Peckham in Largo, Florida. The footage shows emergency responders dealing with the tragic incident and the efforts to retrieve the victim’s remains from the canal. The incident highlights the rare but serious threat of alligator encounters in the area.
Newly released body camera footage reveals the aftermath of a fatal alligator attack on 41-year-old Sabrina Peckham in Largo, Florida, in September 2023. Peckham, an unhoused woman, was living near McKay Creek when a nearly 14-foot alligator dragged her into the canal and killed her.
The footage, provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), shows emergency responders arriving at the scene. The alligator, suspected of already having human remains in its stomach, was shot and killed by law enforcement officers before being hauled out of the canal.
Jamarcus Bullard, a passerby, alerted authorities after noticing what he believed to be body parts in the gator’s mouth. Responders later identified the remains as those of Sabrina Peckham, who had been seen by her family the day before the attack.
Peckham had a history of encounters with local authorities, including a recent arrest for trespassing on a county wetland close to her makeshift campsite. Following the attack, officers secured the area with ropes and chains to remove the gator and retrieve Peckham’s remains.
The incident occurred near Ridgecrest and Taylor Lakes, areas noted for previous alligator encounters, including a fatality in Taylor Lake in 2022. Despite these instances, fatal alligator attacks remain rare in Pinellas County.
Peckham’s daughter denied claims that her mother had taunted the alligator and emphasized the tragic nature of her death. The FWC increased safety measures around the lake areas following the incident.
