A man claiming to be wrangler Jay Young, who had been hired by the city, told several media outlets, including The Associated Press, he had caught the 7-foot alligator, "Reggie," overnight. Ron Berkowitz, the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks superintendent, who supervises the area that includes the lake says, "To the best of my knowledge and all the reports I have received this morning, it was a hoax. I called the zoo to verify and the gator is not there. "

Reptile wranglers searching for an alligator freed in a southern California lake have given up the hunt. The alligator was spotted Aug. 12 in Harbor City's Lake Machado, and since then hundreds of visitors have flocked to the South Los Angeles park for a glimpse, according to an Associated Press report.

A Hollywood producer apparently suffered a fatal heart attack before falling on top of his daughter and suffocating her to death, according to a coroner's report. The body of Terry Carr, 62, toppled onto his 9-year-old daughter as she slept in the cargo area of their SUV, leaving her unable to escape or breathe, according to Lake County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Russ Perdock. Carr and his daughter, Arieka, were found August 1, The Associated Press reports.

Los Angeles residents have found a new hero through an alligator who has defied captors and won local hearts for over the past week. After several unsuccessful attempts in capturing the clever alligator, officials have decided to suspend the search fearing that the unwilling prey might eventually become stressed from the whole ordeal.

Los Angeles residents have found a new hero through an alligator who has defied captors and won local hearts for over the past week. After several unsuccessful attempts in capturing the clever alligator, officials have decided to suspend the search fearing that the unwilling prey might eventually become stressed from the whole ordeal.