Posted on 10/19/2004 11:40:23 PM PDT by ambrose
Georgia State student dies in alligator attack
SONATA KOGAN
October 13, 2004
A Georgia State University student, 20 year-old Michelle Reeves, died after being attacked by an alligator on Sept. 26 in Fort Myers, Fla.
The tragedy occurred in one of the lakes surrounding the Cypress Cove development, where her grandparents live in an assisted retirement community. The junior student and her father, James Reeves, were visiting for the weekend, and throughout the day on Saturday she mentioned that she wanted to go for a swim in the lake.
Although her grandparents had suggested against the idea, Michelle went for a midnight swim. She was last seen approximately 2:30 a.m.
On Sunday morning, her father found her nightgown near the lake, after which he called 911. Authorities located her body floating in the lake face down later that morning. Reeves’ arm was bit off at the elbow and there were punctures on her left arm and upper body. The Florida Fish and Wildlife officials trapped and removed the alligator from the lake that same day.
An autopsy on Sept. 27 showed that the attack was the cause of death and there was no foul play. Reeves was the second person killed by an alligator in Lee County since July 21.
Michelle was involved in the poetry scene in Atlanta and joined The Atlanta Poets group at the age of 18. A few pieces of her poetry are published on the Internet and can be found on the group’s site www.atlantapoetsgroup.net/michellereeves.html. The members of the group thought Reeves was very talented and that her writing far exceeded her age.
Paul J. Voss an associate professor of literature at Georgia State remembers that she was very intelligent and thoughtful, Reeves was registered in a few of his classes. She was also a political activist, and protested the Iraq war during the Republican National Convention in New York and demonstrated in Washington.
Keith Tims a theatre instructor at Georgia State taught Michelle in Acting I and Acting II.
“ One of the wonderful things about Michelle was that even though she was really shy, she was open about it and tried really hard and grew a lot, and I admired that about her,” he said.
Megan Cleary, a junior at Georgia State, and fellow theatre student said “ She was the kind of person you would remember after meeting her once, she was a very unique individual.”
Senior Jennifer Hoff said that the memorial held on Sept. 30 was filled with a solemn mood.
“She was very loved, of course there was a very somber mood, and at one point the song “Michelle” by the Beatles was played. It was a special song between Michelle and her Dad,” she said.
hhhmmmmm
You're posting a whole lotta stories about animal attacks. What gives?
Are you feeling O.K. tonight, ambrose?
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