JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (CBS12) — A 9-foot alligator kept in a filthy, waterless cage — and fed the bones of other animals — was discovered during a drug bust in Jacksonville.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) said the gruesome find was part of a larger operation involving illegal drugs, firearms, and an underground dog-fighting ring.
In March, Jacksonville law enforcement received a tip about a house on the city’s Northwest side being used to distribute narcotics. When SWAT teams raided the home, the sheriff’s office said they uncovered cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana, along with multiple firearms. Officers arrested 49-year-old Marquis Williams, who now faces multiple felony counts.
But the crime scene went beyond drugs.
Investigators found dog-fighting equipment, trophies, and books detailing the brutal sport, according to the news release. Animal control officers discovered multiple dogs in distress — some chained, others locked in skyboxes, all without access to water. Many were covered in feces and fleas, suffering from infections and open wounds.
Adding to the horror, officers uncovered young raccoons and turtles in similarly neglected conditions. But the most shocking discovery JSO said was the massive alligator, trapped in a small, enclosed area. With bones scattered around, officers believe it was being fed the other animals on the property.
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) dispatched an alligator wrangler to remove the reptile safely, video captures the interaction.
Meanwhile, Williams faces more than a dozen felony counts, including promoting dog fighting and illegally possessing an alligator, according to JSO. He remains behind bars at the Duval County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing, JSO said.
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