Posted on 09/18/2006 7:17:10 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
The Marion County Sheriff's Office asked the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to catch at least one large alligator in an area where crews are searching for a missing boy, according to a news release.
Authorities continued their fourth day of searching near Farles Lake in the Ocala National Forest for 2-year-old Trenton Duckett.
Trenton was reported missing 22 days ago by his mother, Melinda Duckett, who committed suicide more than a week ago.
On Monday afternoon, a trapper will attempt to catch an 8-foot alligator spotted near Farles Lake.
If alligators are captured, their stomachs will be examined for any evidence such as bone, fabric and hair remnants, the Florida Fish and Wildlife release said.
The report said the alligator has not posed a threat to search divers, but investigators want to rule out any possibilities.
"There are not a lot of alligators in Farles Lake, and again, there is no information linking an alligator to Trenton's disappearance," the release said.
Search Continues
Authorities continued their fourth day of searching near Farles Lake in the Ocala National Forest with dive teams, search dogs and ground crews.
"It is very treacherous work," Marion County sheriff's Capt. James Pogue said. "The water is murky. It is not like swimming in a swimming pool, where you see everything when you go underwater. It is really just a touch-and-feel-type of game."
Searchers have been in the area after a tipster said he saw and possibly talked with Melinda Duckett.
Searchers formed a human dragnet around Farles Lake Sunday but found nothing.
More than 150 officers and volunteers, 17 cadaver dogs and a helicopter were used in the search near the Farles Lake area of the forest.
Hundreds Of Tips
Local 6 News reported that since the boy vanished on Aug. 27, tips have come in by the hundreds, but there are still more to check out, according to police.
"We are still trying to firm up Melinda's timeline in the 24 to 48 hours prior to the abduction," Leesburg police Capt. Steve Rockefeller said.
Leesburg police said a multiagency task force is working other routine leads and plans to regroup Monday and Tuesday to plot a new course in the search for the toddler.
well, this is profoundly grim depressing. Prayers!!!
(sigh) I really didn't need this image.. poor kid.
Maybe Nancy Grace should question the alligators' dietary habits.
thanks for the update. been looking for news on this story.
I hope he had found well but it doesn't look very promising if they are doing this.
And, I really hate the image of alligators being killed wantonly [or, is there another way to "examine their stomachs"], while grasping for straws ... just in case there might be some evidence of this poor missing child.How many alligators' stomachs will have to be "examined" ... is one enough? Fifteen? How about examining Nancy Grace's stomach while we are at it?
This story grows sicker by the moment.
Unless I heard wrong, NG just said that Trenton Ducketts belongings were found in the dumpster of their apt the day after he went missing.
Anyone else hear this?
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