Florida deputies identify man whose body was found in alligator-infested waters

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies in south Florida have identified the man whose arm was found in an alligator’s mouth last week.

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The arm was found with an alligator in Hungryland Preserve, and when deputies searched for clues, they found a leg about a mile away, as we previously reported.

Deputies now say the body parts belonged to Dustin David Mills, WPTV reported. The station said the medical examiner was able to take fingerprints off the victim’s hand, allowing for identification.

In a Facebook post, Martin County sheriff’s deputies said Mills had a criminal history, serving time in prison for drug charges as well as resisting arrest with violence and battery on law enforcement or a firefighter. He was most recently released from jail in February 2020.

Investigators said that they believe Mills was murdered and buried in a shallow grave, WPBF reported, with detectives saying they believe he was “dismembered with a sharp instrument.”

Deputies searched the alligator-infested waters after the initial body parts were found, but said only that they retrieved an arm, a hand, and a leg.

Police have not made any arrests and have asked anyone with information about either Mills or his murder to contact them.

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