A fisherman in Covington, Louisiana made a startling discovery when he captured an alligator snapping turtle.  According to St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Captain Scott's statement to the Huffington Post, the unnamed angler was preparing to cook the turtle when he found a human finger in the stomach of the beast.  The huge turtle was caught last week on a trot line, and coroners have now verified that the digit is indeed human in origin.

Investigators had the fisherman guide them to spot just north of Lake Pontchartrain where the snapping turtle was found.  After consulting with a biologist and learning that this species doesn't stray far from their feeding ground and the likely spot where the finger was taken, the team determined the search area.  Unfortunately, the search team came up short in regards to evidence or clues that would point them to the former owner of the finger.

Police were unable to pull a print from the severed finger, but are holding out hope for a DNA match.  They are currently checking local emergency room records to see if any recent injuries could shed light on the mystery finger, but are wary that the injured person may not have gotten medical help and opted to take care of it themselves.

If you or someone you know has recently lost a digit to an Alligator Snapping Turtle just north of Lake Pontchartrain, please call the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office at 985-898-2338

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