12-foot alligator killed after body of missing snorkeler found

ORANGE CITY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Authorities say a 62-year-old man was snorkeling on Monday morning with two friends, when suddenly he disappeared under the water. One minute they say he was there, the next he was gone.  After several hours of searching at Blue Spring State Park, the body of James Okkers was found near an alligator.

Carol Anen says she and her husband were snorkeling with Okkers when her husband spotted the large alligator nearby and yelled for them to get out of the water.  Officers with the Florida Wildlife and Conservation Commission
shot a 12-foot alligator they believe could be involved in the death of Okkers.  

The alligator was identified as the same one spotted in the swimming area several times on Sunday. At that time FWC officials at the park closed the swimming area.  No one spotted the gator on Monday morning.

"He's our friend and we love him and we're just gonna wait and see what happens," Anen says.  

The Volusia County Medical Examiner will have to determine the official cause of death.

Fox 35 Weather Authority