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KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Autopsy results have determined a man found dead near a pond in South Carolina died of natural causes before an alligator bit him.
The Post and Courier reports Charleston County deputies found John Elias shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday in a pond near his home on Kiawah Island. Officials said search crews found Elias hours after a missing persons report was filed.
According to Department of Natural Resources reports obtained by WCIV, the man's body appeared to have alligator bite marks.
Deputies said the alligator was found Sunday afternoon and killed. The state's DNR looked at what was inside the alligator's digestive tract.
Results found Elias' injuries from the alligator were made after he died.
In Charleston County, there has been only one confirmed person ever killed by an alligator and two in the state of South Carolina.
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Cox Media Group
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