13-Foot Alligator Killed Member Of Homeless Population: Daughter Breaks Silence
By Melanie VanDerveer on September 26, 2023 at 7:50 PM EDT
Updated on September 26, 2023 at 8:41 PM EDT
The daughter of the woman whose body was found in the mouth of a 13-foot alligator in Largo, Florida is remembering her mom and paying tribute to the person she said was "nice to everybody."
Breauna Dorris shared some information about the tragic incident that took her mother's life and has started a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses.
13-Foot Alligator Was Found With Woman's Body In Mouth
While it's been reported that the alligator was seen with a lifeless body in its mouth, many rumors have begun about what happened. Dorris wanted to put the rumors to rest with the information she knows, so she took to Facebook.
"The past 24 hours have been filled with grief and sorrow and unbearable pain for our family. I’m posting this to put rumors to rest and ask for everyone’s help," she wrote. "My mother, Sabrina Peckham was the victim of the alligator attack at McCay Creek (rainbow village). Please understand that we do not have all information yet as the medical examiner's report is not yet finished."
She continued to explain that her mother did not "taunt" the alligator as some are saying. Peckham was part of the homeless population that lived in a nearby wooded area, not far from the water.
"It is believed that she may have been walking to or from her camp site near the creek in the dark and the alligator attacked from the water," she continued. "Please do not speak on what you don't know. No matter how you put it, no one deserves to die like this."
Another Facebook post shares information on a memorial site that's been set up for Peckham so friends and family can leave flowers and balloons in her memory.
A vigil is scheduled for this Friday at 6 p.m. at the bridge at 134th Avenue and 121st Street, according to WFTS-TV.
A GoFundMe Page Has Been Set Up
Dorris also wrote in her Facebook post about the GoFundMe the family set up to help raise funds for her funeral.
"We will be using the funds raised from the GoFundMe to put my mother to rest in our family plot," she wrote. "My mother only being 41, we had no expected to do this anytime soon. We expected to have many, many more years with her."
In the description on the fundraising page, Dorris explains that the family had no funeral or death arrangements in place.
"Hi, my name is Breauna Dorris and I’m fundraising for the sudden, tragic loss of my mother Sabrina Peckham. Sabrina lost her life suddenly after being attacked by a 13 foot alligator. Sabrina was loved by many and we expected many many more years with her," the description reads.
"Our family is in shambles trying to cope with this kind of loss. Sabrina only being 41 and homeless at the time had no funeral or death arrangements set up. We will be using the funds raised for crematory expenses and laying her to rest in our family plot."
As of Tuesday evening, more than 370 people have donated more than $12,000, exceeding their goal of $10,000. Many also left their condolences in the comment section.