DNA, necropsy results show that just one of three bears shot by wildlife officials was responsible for fatally mauling Robert Markel of Jerome

A man and a dog were killed in a bear attack in rural Jerome, Florida on May 5, 2025. A family member reportedly called 911 at 7:15 a.m. after witnessing a bear kill the victim's dog. There was no sign of Robert Markel, 89, and his trailer was in disarray, with a mattress and other items scattered throughout, according to a police report.

New information on Florida’s first fatal bear attack revealed the culprit was a 263-pound black bear that broke into the man’s home and killed him and a dog, wildlife officials said. The male bear tested negative for rabies, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said May 9.