An alligator snatched the 2-year-old boy and dragged him under water in the Seven Seas Lagoon on the evening of June 14, 2016, between 9 and 9:15 p.m. at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Bay Lake, Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has completed their investigation.
CASE SUMMARY / FWC
On June 14, 2016, at approximately 2100 hours, children were playing near the water’s edge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. A witness, Matt Graves, heard a splash and saw an alligator bite his son’s head and pull him into the water.
Mr. Graves was close enough to grab the alligator, putting his hands into the animal’s mouth. The alligator began to struggle and broke free from Mr. Graves, injuring his hands.
The alligator disappeared into the water with the child. Multiple individuals called 911 for assistance. Fire Rescue personnel and law enforcement officers from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Orange County Sheriff’s Office began a search of the area by land, air and water.
The body of the missing child was located underwater by a patrol officer involved in the search and recovered by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office dive team in the Seven Seas Lagoon on the afternoon of June 15, 2016, submerged in approximately seven feet of water near where the initial attack had taken place.
Six alligators were subsequently captured from the vicinity, euthanized, and had necropsies performed. Examination of the bite pattern on the victim’s body and an autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was injuries sustained from a severe alligator bite.
INVESTIGATION
Site assessment The attack location was in the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian Resort in Orange County, Florida. The lagoon is a large man-made impoundment used largely for waterborne transportation around the Walt Disney World (WDW) Complex. The shore is developed with hotels and transportation hubs, with stretches of more natural habitat in between buildings.
Open water depth is reported to be approximately 20 feet. Areas observed near shore appear to drop off sharply, with no shallow water flats. The lagoon is not unsuitable habitat for alligators, but it would not be considered a preferred location due to the deep clear water, lack of cover, insufficient areas to bask, limited sources of sustenance and high levels of human activity. “No swimming” signs were observed at the resort beach area.
Victim/Fatality
The victim (a small child) was identified as Lane Thomas Graves, a white male, date of birth, 09/03/2013. Upon recovering Lane Graves, wounds were observed to the neck, head and face.
The wounds were deep lacerations, contusions, abrasions and punctures. These wounds appeared consistent with an alligator bite. The victim was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Medical Examiner’s findings are as follows:
Cause of Death: “Cranio-cervical trauma and drowning”
Manner of Death: “Accident”
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