LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The body of the toddler taken into a lagoon by an alligator near the Disney World Grand Floridian Hotel was found Wednesday.
Authorities searched diligently since a 2-year-old was attacked at a Disney resort Tuesday night. The toddler was on the edge of the lagoon with his parents in the beach like area, said authorities. There was a "No Swimming" sign posted, said police.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the child's body was found totally intact.
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"There is no question in my mind that the child was drowned by the alligator," said Demings.
Officials said they were prepared to search until the body was found.
Police said it was a complicated operation searching the water because it was a manmade body of water. Divers, sonar equipment and experienced alligator trappers all helped in the search.
The child, Lane Graves, and his parents, Melissa and Matt Graves, and from Elkhorn, Nebraska.
FOX25 Live StreamWATCH LIVE: Officials identify child snatched by gator as 2-year-old boy from Nebraska: http://fox25.com/24QZ8fB
Posted by Boston 25 News on Wednesday, June 15, 2016
"The family has given us a message. They are thankful for the outpouring of support," said Demings.
Several alligators have been located, but they are not sure which alligator dragged the child into the lagoon.
"We are going to compare things like bite marks. There's a good chance we already have the alligator...if we can't make a certain match, we will go back and search for alligators," said the Florida Wildlife Conservation.
Deepest condolences to the Graves family. Thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/nXaRrgjLhl
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) June 16, 2016
Florida Wildlife Conservation said that Disney does everything by the book regarding their wildlife and has an amazing program. They said that Disney regularly "takes out" problem alligators.
In the past, there have been 23 alligator attack fatalities in Florida since 1973, not including this most recent incident. Eight of the attacks involved children; back in 2001, another 2-year-old was killed at Lake Cannon In Polk County after wandering from her fenced backyard.
Omaha station KETV has photos of the child before he was killed.
BREAKING: The body of the Nebraska boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator has been recovered.The child has been identified as Lane Graves, of Elkhorn. Read the latest: http://ketv.tv/6180BtVKK
Posted by KETV NewsWatch 7 on Wednesday, June 15, 2016
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