The family of a grandmother gruesomely killed by an alligator lurking in a pond near her home has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her retirement community, alleging they took no steps to protect residents from the 10-foot predator that was so well known. nicknamed Enrique.
Gloria Serge, 85, was dragged to her death around the pond behind her home on Spanish Lakes Fairways in Fort Pierce, Florida, on February 20 while trying to protect her small dog from an attack.
Surveillance footage captured the moment the alligator snuck up on the unsuspecting grandmother, who was then dragged underwater by the 10-foot, 700-pound beast and killed.
His family filed a lawsuit Thursday morning, alleging that Wynne Building Corp., the developer and manager of the retirement community, is to blame for his death.
Gloria Serge (C) was walking her dog in the retention pond behind her home in Spanish Lakes Fairways on Feb. 20, 2023, when she died after a 10-foot-long alligator dragged her into the water. Serge family
“A year ago, I received a phone call that every son dreads,” William Serge said during a press conference Thursday, according to WPEC. “I could never have imagined the agonizing way in which my mother spent the last moments of her life.
“No child should have to bury their mother in such horrible circumstances.
“This was a 100% preventable tragedy, so I am here today on my mother’s behalf to share her story in hopes that this never happens again,” the grieving son explained.
Bill Serge stands with a photo of his 85-year-old mother during a news conference Thursday. AP
Serge’s family claims that Wynne Building Corporation knew the creature lived on the property and that no steps were taken to keep residents safe.
“In fact, the neighborhood named this particular alligator Henry, and they named him Henry because the alligator was seen so frequently on the banks of this retention pond,” said Gary Lesser, the family’s attorney.
Lesser alleges that residents, and even community staff, regularly fed the predator, often seen lying around the pond.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office shows law enforcement officers and Florida Fish and Wildlife investigators responding to a fatal alligator attack on the 85-year-old grandmother. St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office/AFP via Getty Images
“Surprisingly, Spanish Lakes didn’t actually post warnings about the existence of these dangerous alligators that they knew about,” Lesser explained.
“There were no warnings to its residents in the weekly newsletters that Spanish Lakes sent to its residents.”
Community members claim that only after Serge’s tragic death were warning signs being built, according to the lawyer.
The alligator was reported to be at least 10 feet long and weighed 700 pounds. St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office/AFP via Getty Images
“That’s too little, too late to save or bring Gloria back,” Lesser said. “A recent visit to the property revealed that alligator warning signs had not yet been posted.”
Lesser claims that Spanish Lakes Fairways “encouraged its residents to socialize by the retention pond” and “placed community benches on the water’s edge” despite allegedly knowing the alligator was lurking in the community.
Even more heartbreaking are allegations that Serge was “forced” to walk her puppy around the pond and was even threatened with eviction due to the community’s strict rules.
Community members claim that only after Serge’s tragic death were warning signs being built, according to the lawyer. St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office/AFP via Getty Images
“Gloria was forced to walk her dog behind the house, in the backyard, next to the retention pond,” Lesser explained. “Spanish Lakes is one of those communities that has a rule: you can’t walk your dog on the streets of your community.”
“In fact, Gloria received a violation warning and eviction for walking her small dog in the front yard of her home.”
Even though the property had no alligator warning signs, CBS12 News reported Friday that multiple signs were posted to inform community members that they could not walk their dogs on the street.
The Spanish Lakes Fairways Community is owned and managed by Wynne Building Corp. St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office
The Serge family is seeking at least $50,000 in damages and plans to take Wynne Building Corporation to a jury trial, WPEC reported.
Following last year’s attack, a trapper hired by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission captured and killed the alligator.
Alligator hunter Robert Lilly, who was called in to catch the predator, said: “It was definitely a fight.”
“[We] caught him at the bottom. She never surfaced. She stayed down the whole time,” Lilly said.
“We were able to put a second hook and a hard line on it so we could lift it up.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn