ORLANDO, Fla. — A woman's body was found Thursday as crews searched an Orlando retention pond after someone called 911 to report a possible drowning near North Goldenrod Road and East Colonial Drive, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.
The Sheriff's Office said the woman was in her late teens to early 20s. There was no damage to the woman's body, and no signs of an alligator attack, Jeff Williamson with the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit discovered the body at about 6:30 a.m., floating in the pond.
The body was located about 50 yards from the shore.
“There appears to be no damage to the body of dark-skinned female found floating in retention pond,” said Williamson.
Homicide detectives, CSI and the medical examiner were at the scene.
Residents in the area said they’ve been concerned about a hole in the fence and wonder if it’s how the victim gained access to the water.
Mary Hindman believes the victim may be the same person she saw acting strangely Wednesday on a nearby street.
“She started looking at us over here and started cussing and everything,” Hindman said.
Investigators said they do have some indication of who the woman may be based on items found on the victim and clothing that was found by the shore.
A medical examiner will help with the identification.
Watch: Orange County Sheriff's Office news conference
PIO: We are working to ID the female found deceased floating in an east Orange County retention pond. No trauma to the body. No missing persons reports. We do not know how the female got into fenced retention pond. It is possible the victim was homeless.Investigation continues.
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) May 10, 2018
On Wednesday, 911 caller, Eric Wolfe, told dispatchers that he saw what appeared to be a teenage boy flailing his arms in the water while screaming, "It bit me. It bit me."
However, the sheriff's office disproved that witness account.
"The only thing I could hear was, 'Something bit me,' and him screaming," Wolfe said. "By the time I got out with the binoculars, he was kind of just fighting to stay above and he just sunk under."
He said the victim was about 20 yards from the shoreline and never resurfaced.
But the sheriff's office said the body did not have injuries relating to a gator attack.
WATCH: Witness describes seeing victim in water
Williamson said deputies knocked on doors in the neighborhood, but there didn't appear to be anyone missing.
Despite “No Trespassing” signs around the fenced pond, residents said people still fish and swim there, even though it’s known for alligators.
Orange County Fire Rescue and the Orange County Sheriff's Office helped with the search.
Cox Media Group
