A burglary suspect who was possibly hiding in a Florida lake drowned after being attacked by an alligator, according to news reports.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office on Nov. 25 identified the body of a man found in Barefoot Bay lake as 22-year-old Matthew Riggins. The cause of death for Riggins, who had been reported missing on Nov.13, was not released at the time.

Florida Today reported Monday Riggins was killed by an alligator while possibly hiding to avoid law enforcement.

Police searching the area around the lake on Nov. 13 after receiving calls of suspicious "reported hearing "yelling" but could not determine the source that night," that report stated.

"He probably went into the lake to hide from the officers and the dog, and came across that gator," Maj. Tod Goodyear told the Brevard County Reporter. "To hide somewhere to try and get away, and then meeting up with an animal like that, no, I've never had that happen before."

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office dive team encountered an 11-foot alligator while recovering the body, and the animal had to be euthanized, that report stated.

"Inside the gator's stomach, the medical examiner found proof of how Riggins was killed," the report continued.

"I would say it's poetic justice, you want to sit there and steal from people," Barefoot Bay resident Chuck Stokes said.

[BELOW: ALLIGATOR SAFETY TIPS]