Florida wildlife officials have captured and identified the 13-foot alligator that fatally mauled 31-year-old Brittany Clark on June 29, 2026, in the Little Big Econ State Forest. The beast, which performed a 'death roll' and tore off both of Clark's arms, was confirmed through DNA testing and bite mark analysis.
Attack Details
Clark was swimming in shoulder-deep water with her boyfriend, Chance Allison, and roommate, Jayden Hernandez, when the alligator grabbed her arm and began the 'death roll.' According to the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office, Allison grabbed the alligator to try to free Clark, but it pulled both of them underwater. The alligator released its grip momentarily, only to clamp onto Clark's other arm.
Hernandez's 911 call revealed the severity: one arm was 'completely off,' and the other was 'attached barely.' She pleaded for help, saying Clark was losing a lot of blood. Allison managed to bring Clark to shore and started CPR, but she died from her injuries in the hospital.
Capture and Identification
Trappers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) captured two alligators following the incident—one 12 feet and one 13 feet. FWC lab testing confirmed that DNA from the larger alligator matched Clark, and bite marks on her arm corresponded to the animal. The 13-foot alligator was identified as the attacker.
Aftermath and Tributes
Clark's family remembered her as an 'amazing person.' In her final moments, she asked Allison to care for her German Shepherd, Hokie. Allison told the New York Post: 'It was one of the last things she said to me. I can’t recall anything else.' The incident highlights the dangers of alligator encounters in Florida waterways, where large reptiles are common.
