JEROME, Fla. (WFLA) – Authorities have announced a heartbreaking 911 call from the bear attack Monday, when an 89-year-old man and his dog died in South Florida.
The nearly 20-minute emergency call came from Sue, the granddaughter of the victim’s granddaughter, Robert Markel. Sue says the bear killed Marquel’s dog in the front yard.
Three bears were killed and DNA samples were sent after a fatal attack in South Florida
“I need a cop, and I need an FWC,” the granddaughter tells the operator. “The bear has it [redacted]. He’s already killing the dog, and now we can’t find it [Markel]. ”
She says she saw the bear grabbed the dog, took him into the woods and let the dog go after the family scared the bear. Later, they spotted the dog dead in the front driveway, and their granddaughter checked the trailer where Marquel was sleeping.
Markel was gone and the trailer was torn apart. The trailer has been reported to be “confusing,” with the mattress being away from the bed and items scattered around, the FWC case report states.
She goes on to say that one of the bears is still in the SR-29 area. There, the attack was first reported.
“I’m dressed and I’m going to take my gun with me. I’m going to look for this bear,” she added.
Later on the phone, she advises that the family found around 20 yards of Marquel clothes and wallet from a trailer in the forest. According to the incident report, the man’s shirt was saturated with blood.
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The 911 operator says they will send ambulances, fire departments and officers to the scene to respond.
Marquel’s granddaughter tells officials that the bear went behind the camper van and that the bear goes in and out of the camper van every day.
“There are 40 bears here that come and go every day. [ineligible]”My granddaughter is telling the operator.
When the FWC arrived at the scene, Marquell’s body was found in his trailer about 100 yards and covered in dirt and leaves, the report says.
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In a Tuesday morning update, wildlife officials confirmed the death and removal of the three bears they shot. Their DNA samples were transported to Gainesville for testing to determine whether the attack was from a singular bear or from multiple bears. By Monday afternoon, four live traps had been unfolded.
“The FWC wants to express our sincere appreciation to Mr. Marquel’s family and friends,” the official said in a statement to wfla.com.
The FWC said this was the first deadly bear attack in Florida history. Over the past 15 years, bear encounters have been steadily increasing. However, within the past year, those numbers have risen, said Mike Orlando, director of the FWC’s bare management program.
