Human remains found in jaws of alligator, believed to be missing Texas woman

The remains of a missing Texas woman are believed to have been found in the mouth of an alligator, officials report.

The alligator was found in the 2700 block of Coastal Oak Drive in Houston around 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28. Officers made the discovery while searching for a local missing woman believed to be in her 60s.

"Patrol officers located the remains of a woman in the jaws of an alligator in the Horsepen Bayou … while searching the area for a woman reported missing," Houston police said in a statement Wednesday.

A HPD sergeant shot and killed the alligator to prevent further damage of the remains, the news release continues. The HPD Dive Team was then able to recover the remains and the alligator from the bayou.

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The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is performing an autopsy on the remains to verify the victim's identity and cause of death.

The victim's husband reported her missing when she went out for a walk around 7:30 Monday morning and didn't return, according to KHOU. The remains were found not far from their home on Brook Forest Drive.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.

While alligator attacks on humans are rare, the growing human population in Texas has prompted more encounters, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. The months of March, April and May mark when alligators are most active, in terms of breeding and nesting.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Human remains found in alligator, believed to be missing Texas woman