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In the movies, the escape through the swamp if always exciting — if a bit messy. In Florida, escaping through the swamp is just messy, period.

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An accused burglar is dead after Brevard County deputies said he hid in a pond while on the run and was killed by an 11-foot-long alligator.

Matthew Riggins, 22, of Palm Bay was reported missing Nov. 13. His body was found 10 days later floating in a pond near Latan Court and Barefoot Circle, in Barefoot Bay. Investigators said it had the makings of a gator attack.

Shortly before Riggins was reported missing, he called his girlfriend and told her he’d be in the area breaking into homes, deputies said.

“He was going to do burglaries in the Barefoot Bay area with another individual,” said Maj. Tod Goodyear, with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

Neighbors reported to authorities that they saw two men dressed in black lurking behind homes. Deputies began searching the area and were later joined by more deputies, K-9 units and a sheriff’s helicopter.

Investigators said Riggins then called his girlfriend to tell her they were being chased and lying low.

“Do you still hear them hollering, or did they hunker down?” deputies could be heard saying on radio traffic.

“Hunker down” is the new “eaten to death by alligator,” apparently.

And you know you’re not supposed to do that, right?