A heated argument between two Alaska brothers took a bizarre and tragic turn when their exotic pets became casualties of the dispute. The altercation, which reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over anime, ended with the death of a pet crocodile and left an alligator recovering from the cold.
The incident unfolded in Wasilla, Alaska, on a chilly Thursday night. Tyler Lowe, 33, and his younger brother Rickey Lowe, 30, began arguing in their shared apartment. In a fit of anger, Tyler allegedly threw Rickey’s pet alligator out of the apartment and into the snow. In retaliation, Rickey responded by tossing Tyler’s pet crocodile into the freezing outdoors.
According to Alaska State Troopers, the crocodile succumbed to the harsh conditions, while the alligator was later rescued and is expected to survive.
Neighbors Caught in the Chaos
The bizarre series of events surprised the brothers’ neighbors, who had no idea such exotic animals were living nearby.
“They go, ‘Have you seen an alligator run past here?’ And I go, ‘You guys are kidding, right?’” recalled Matt Strickland, a neighbor. “He goes, ‘No, I’m a state trooper, I wouldn’t kid about something like that.’”
State troopers and Tyler combed the area in search of the missing reptiles, but only the alligator was found alive.
Legal Consequences
The fallout from the incident didn’t end there. Both brothers have been charged with animal cruelty and assault. Rickey faces additional charges, including DUI and child endangerment, after allegedly leaving the scene intoxicated with his 2-year-old child in the car.
The tragic demise of the crocodile and the shocking circumstances surrounding the dispute highlight the unpredictability of human behavior—and perhaps the dangers of keeping exotic pets in extreme environments.
The Alaska State Troopers are continuing their investigation into the incident.
