The death of an elderly South Carolina woman, whose body was found in a pond after disappearing from her assisted living facility, was alligator-related.
Coroner Rae Wooten said on Friday the cause of death of 90-year-old West Ashley woman Bonnie Walker was “multiple sharp and blunt force injuries.”
Walker’s body was discovered in a retention pond near her assisted living facility Wednesday.
Her injuries are consistent with those that would be inflicted by an alligator.
“Our investigation has confirmed that an alligator was involved in the decedent’s death,” the coroner said in a statement.”There is no indication of an “attack,” but rather it is likely that the decedent slipped, fell down a steep embankment, or otherwise landed in the water, attracting the attention of the alligator.”
Walker’s is believed to be the first death in the history of South Carolina connected to an alligator.
Her body was discovered hours after she went missing.
A large alligator was reportedly removed from the pond near the assisted living facility by Department of Natural Resources workers Friday morning.
