The family of an elderly event planner who was fatally attacked by an alligator on upscale Hilton Head Island has received an undisclosed payout after filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Holly Jenkins, 69, was killed by a 10-foot alligator while walking her dog near her home on the South Carolina island on July 4, 2023.
Incident Details
Jenkins left the home she shared with her husband of 45 years, Justin, to walk their dog around the neighborhood that morning. Her son and husband later found the family dog with its leash in the backyard around 8 a.m., but Holly was nowhere to be found. They discovered her lying face down in one of the community ponds, where homes can fetch as much as $10 million. Her son had to distract the alligator to keep it away from his mother while they dialed 911.
She was pronounced dead at the scene. However, the lawsuit stated that she did not die in the initial attack. The alligator was euthanized, and a necropsy revealed her hand and foot inside its stomach. The suit described Jenkins as cautious and warned young families about the dangers.
Lawsuit Allegations
The suit, filed by her family, named the Spanish Wells Club, GW Services Inc, and the Spanish Wells Property Owners Association as defendants. The family claimed these entities contributed to her gruesome death by failing to remove alligators from the area. They also cited a lack of signage warning locals about the alligator population.
The suit highlighted a 2016 email from the property management team to homeowners, which reported a large alligator sighting and assured that proper measures were being taken by the Spanish Wells Club. However, sightings increased in subsequent years. The suit alleged that special tags, which allow the killing of alligators, were woefully underestimated.
Settlement
According to a settlement approval filed this week, the three defendants offered to settle to buy their peace from litigation. The amount was not disclosed. Jessica Fickling, one of the attorneys representing the family, declined to give details on the amount.
She said: 'As lawyers who are often working with families on their very worst day, some of what we hear from the other side is often about the unforeseeable nature of something or personal accountability. But I think what we're trying to promote is that there is some collective responsibility, and so when things like this happen, we should be looking at what could have been done to prevent it.'
Community Impact
An obituary for Jenkins stated: 'Holly's legacy will forever live on in our hearts. Her impact on the community will not be forgotten. Her absence leaves a void in our lives, but her love and spirit will forever guide us. May she rest in eternal peace as we hold her close in our hearts.'
Three people have been killed by alligators in Beaufort County, where Jenkins lived, since 2018. The majority of incidents occur when people walk their dogs near ponds or lagoons, according to The Island Packet.
