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New York Post
29-06-2025
- New York Post
Alligator mauls wife, 61, canoeing with her husband as Florida urges vacationers to avoid disaster
Florida wildlife authorities have released a new report on a vicious May alligator attack that took the life of a Michigan woman. Cynthia Diekema, 61, was killed while canoeing with her husband near Lake Kissimmee State Park when they unknowingly approached an 11-foot, four-inch alligator lurking beneath the surface, a report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says, according to KETV. FWC said that the alligator thrashed underneath the canoe, causing the pair to be thrown into the water. 'The victim was immediately bitten on the torso, and efforts by her husband to assist her were unsuccessful,' according to the report. 'The alligator performed a death roll and swam away with the victim.' FWC alligator trappers later caught the alligator. 4 Cynthia Diekema, 61, was killed while canoeing with her husband near Lake Kissimmee State Park. WESH 2 News Amid the release of the report, FWC announced a new partnership with GatorWise, described as 'a new public awareness campaign that aims to promote realistic public perceptions about alligators and assist the public in taking appropriate actions to minimize conflict,' in order to help Floridians navigate the waters during the summer, when alligator attacks become more common. 'Florida has seen tremendous population growth in recent years, with many people living or recreating near water,' Matthew Nichols, FWC alligator management program coordinator, said of the partnership. 'Because alligators can be found in nearly any water in Florida, it's safest to always assume they're present. GatorWise provides consistent, science-based information from across the Southeast to help people safely share the landscape with these important animals.' 4 FWC said that the alligator thrashed underneath the canoe, causing the pair to be thrown into the water. WESH 2 News According to the wildlife authority, there are an estimated 1.3 million alligators in Florida. FWC's 2025 statistics show that there have been two 'major' alligator bites through May, one of them being fatal. There have been no 'minor' bites this year. Last year, there were a total of 11 bites, nine considered major and two minor, with no fatalities. In 2023, there were 23 alligator bites, 18 major and five minor, with two fatalities. 4 According to the wildlife authority, there are an estimated 1.3 million alligators in Florida. WESH 2 News The GatorWise website provides basic instructions, like assuming alligators are present when near the water, not feeding alligators, not disposing of fish or food scraps in the water, not attempting to pick up an alligator, and ensuring pets aren't wandering shorelines off-leash. 'Alligators are native to many wetlands of the southeastern United States, making them critical to the health and balance of these ecosystems,' the site says. 'Minimizing conflicts with people while maintaining necessary protections from overharvest is crucial to keeping alligator populations stable within their range.' 4 Last year, there were a total of 11 bites, nine considered major and two minor, with no fatalities. WESH 2 News 'To do that we must Educate people about alligators, while increasing Respect for these animals and their natural behaviors, which will allow for alligators and humans to Coexist.' Fox News Digital reached out to FWC.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cafeteria worker arrested for hiding evidence after her boyfriend kills teen who came to beat up her son, cops say
A Florida cafeteria worker has been arrested for hiding evidence after her boyfriend killed a teen who came to beat up her son, police say. Jessica Rivera, a 48-year-old food service employee at Whispering Oak Elementary in Orange County, was taken into custody at work. Police say she tampered with evidence, including while she was working at the elementary school, in their investigation into the shooting of Neiko Herrera, 19. Herrera and four other young men came to Rivera's home last month because one of them had arranged for a fist fight with her son. Cops say that the teens came to the home over an argument about a girl that they wanted to resolve in person. When the group pulled up in front of the home in a gated RV park near St. Cloud — which is about 25 miles south of Orlando — Rivera's boyfriend, Orvill Osorio-Ortiz, went outside and started shooting at the car, according to police. Herrera was killed in the shooting and another member of his group was injured in what police have called an ambush. Police say Osorio-Ortiz anticipated the meeting, arming himself with a Glock-style gun. Hererra's mother, Monique, told WESH 2 News, "I am so relieved that an arrest has been made in connection with my son's murder. While this doesn't ease the pain of losing him, it is a step toward justice. 'My son, Neiko Herrera was a visionary, a leader, and a young man full of purpose. He poured his heart into building his clothing line, Revenge Riches, with the message: 'The best revenge is success.'' Monique said the family will continue his legacy by sharing his story and growing his clothing brand. 'We want the world to know who he was — not just how he died, but how he lived,' she said. It is unclear what exactly Rivera is accused of doing to tamper with evidence. Meanwhile, Osorio-Ortiz faces a first-degree murder charge and four counts of attempted first-degree murder.
