Previous Report: On May 5th, FWC officials made the first public update on a fatal bear attack that occurred earlier that morning.
JEROME, Fla. (WFLA) – Partial ruins of an 89-year-old Florida man were found in one of Florida fish and wildlife officials arrested earlier this week following the attack by the first deadly bear in the state’s history.
In a press release Friday, FWC officials said the preliminary findings confirmed that the archiving results include the remains of longtime Collier County resident Robert Markel, who died Monday morning, a 263-pound male bear. The bear’s DNA was found in the marquel, inside the trailer, and in the dog’s body. Collier County Medical Examiner is still working to complete the investigation.
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Investigators said there was evidence that the physical encounter between a bear and Marquel near the trailer, a dog that was recently killed by a bear near Markel, and that the bear had entered the trailer itself. However, according to the FWC, the order of events remains unknown.
Just after 7am on May 5th, Marquel died almost 100 yards from Jerome’s dog south of the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area. A search continued for the man after the Markel dog was found dead in the front driveway.
The 911 call from Marquel’s granddaughter to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office was announced Tuesday, detailing the moment the family discovered the 89-year-old missing from the trailer and the signs of a possible disability caused by the bear. His granddaughter told the operator that the bear had entered his residence while he was asleep.
The FWC incident report describes the Markel trailer as “confusing” and is littered with mattresses and other items.
In search of the perpetrator, FWC officials locked up and removed three bears in the area, 207, 263 and 434 pounds, on Tuesday, and sent them to Gainesville for necrosis and DNA testing. Authorities were not sure if the same bear, or multiple attacks, because the same bears occurred at different times, they said Monday.
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Four live bear traps unfolded that afternoon. The FWC said it was unable to capture the fourth bear, but was able to obtain DNA evidence. All three bears captured are consistent with DNA found at the site, indicating that the presence of the area is separated into these three.

Additional bears were temporarily found in the area on Thursday night, but left. According to the FWC, Jerome has the third largest bear population in Florida, with around 1,044 bears. Fatal attacks are rare, but authorities urge Floridians to stay vigilant and maintain a safe distance if they are nearby.
“I would like to thank my family for their cooperation as I navigate this challenging time.
And our ideas remain with them,” FWC Chairman Rodney Barrett said. “I’m proud
Our staff’s professional response and support for families facing immeasurable things
This week’s event. ”
Wildlife officials and local law enforcement will remain in the area throughout the weekend. This will remain a continuous investigation until the test is completed, and results will be thoroughly reviewed.
Click here to learn more about the Florida black bear and what to do if the bear gets close.