Woman bitten, likely killed, by gator
Body sought after attack is confirmed by necropsy on reptile
DAVIE, Fla. — A woman who disappeared while walking her dogs near a Florida lake Friday was bitten and likely killed by an alligator that was later captured, wildlife officials said. A necropsy confirmed the gator bit Shizuka Matsuki, 47, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said in a statement. The statement said officials believe Matsuki was killed and were searching for her body. Commission spokesman Rob Klepper said they were able to positively identify the woman from evidence collected from the necropsy of the alligator, but he wouldn’t specifically say what that evidence was. A witness told authorities he saw the woman walking
two dogs and then noticed the dogs alone, barking near the water. One of the dogs had a fresh injury, a gash on its side, said Davie Police Detective Viviana Gallinal. The witness called police when he couldn’t find the woman, Gallinal said. Earlier news media reports indicated the witness reported seeing the gator drag the woman
into the water. Police did not immediately clarify the discrepancy. Trappers have spotted a 12-foot alligator in the pond in Silver Lakes Rotary Nature Park, she said. Jim Borrelli, a friend of Matsuki, said she and her husband have walked their dogs in the park previously. The couple did not live in the
neighborhood, but he said she liked to find different places to walk the dogs. Residents said they often saw her walking them in the area. Borrelli said Matsuki’s husband, who is out of town and trying to fly home, sent him to the park to get more information after being contacted by Davie Police. Borrelli said he was also asked to break the news to the couple’s son, who is in his 20s and lives in New York. “I’m praying that nothing happened to her,” Borrelli said. A man who identified himself as Matsuki’s brother and several other family friends gathered at the scene. He declined to talk but friends described the missing woman as a great friend who loved to cook. Alligators are opportunistic feeders that will eat what is readily available and easily overpowered. Feeding wild alligators is illegal.