After the body of
17-year-old Chrissie Watson was found mangled on South Beach Monday morning,
police are talking of a possible shark attack.
Police
were notified at about 6 a.m. that Watson had gone missing. The call was made
by Christopher P. Hoggenbottam III, who had been seen leaving a party with
Watson the night before. Watson’s body, which had been mauled by an unknown
attacker, was found washed up on the beach by Police Deputy Jay Hendricks at
about 8 a.m. According to medical reports, Watson had been dead for about nine
hours when she was found.
Witnesses
at the party said that both Watson and Hoggenbottam, a sophomore at Trinity
College, had been drinking heavily and possibly smoking marijuana before they
left together at about 11 p.m. Hoggenbottam said that they decided to go
swimming and headed toward a remote section of South Beach near the South Beach
Shoal bell buoy.
Watson
was known as a good swimmer, being both a lifeguard and a member of the varsity
swim team at Amity High School. The water was calm that night and the weather
was clear.
Police currently
have filed no charges and the investigation is ongoing. Police Chief Martin Brody said that
they have while they have no suspects, Hoggenbottam will continued to be
questioned as a witness. There is also no evidence that a weapon was used in
this attack.
While a shark
attack may have been possible, police would like to assure residents that they
are not in danger. Beaches are safe and will remain open until further notice.
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