HOUSTON, Texas – Robin Jean Puryear, 63, a retiree, left her Clear Lake City home one night and never made it back.
To the community’s horror, Robin’s remains were found in the jaws of a large alligator in Horsepen Bayou, the next morning, just before a large-scale search for the divorced mother of two was kicking into gear.
The Harris County Medical Examiner, weeks later, has not determined how Puryear’s died.
The alligator, a large one, known to locals for mostly keeping to itself, was shot on site, upon the discovery by a police officer, to preserve evidence.
Questions abound about the curious and sad circumstances of the rare event.
Robin’s remains were found about a half-mile from her home in the Brookside Village subdivision.
Robin lived in her home with her longtime 70-year-old boyfriend who has not been implicated in any wrongdoing by the police.
What we did not know
KPRC2 Investigates contacted and chatted with Robin’s son, Daniel Puryear.
Daniel, grown, and living just a few miles from his mother’s house, has been distraught since his mother’s death.
But he believes he knows what happened to his mother.
“No one murdered my mother,” Daniel said emphatically during his exclusive interview with KPRC 2 Investigates.
Daniel then commenced with an emotional recounting of his mother’s mental health struggles. She had been hospitalized earlier in 2024 for suicidal thoughts, her son said.
“I would say it was pretty complicated for the most part. She did what she could to try to get better but the progress was very slow,” Daniel said.
In May 2023, Daniel said that his mother had attempted suicide by drowning in the same body of water, Horesepen Bayou.
“One involved Horsepen and another was in Galveston Bay,” Daniel said.
Daniel recounted a detailed story regarding his mom’s stress regarding her finances. Even though she lived in a well-to-do neighborhood, she was fixated on running out of money, her son said. However, her son said her finances were largely in order. Tensions within the family did not help Robin’s mental health, he said.
“She couldn’t swim. She made previous attempts beforehand. But every time she would come back. This time she didn’t come back,” Daniel said.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States.
Dial 988 if you or anyone you may know is thinking about harming themselves.