BRUNSWICK, Ga. (CB) On a recent vacation to Georgia, Joie Henney lost his emotional support alligator Wally. Joie Henney is a Pennsylvania man who credits Wally, a 5 and a half foot alligator, with helping his depression. Wally and Joie gained sizable social media notoriety when they were denied entry to a Phillies game in 2023. Wally went missing on April 20th in Brunswick. Although there was no police report ever filed, there was a report on the 21st to The Georgia Department of Natural Resources about a nuisance alligator. A licensed trapper was dispatched, and the animal was caught and released into a remote location.

Joie has not made himself available to the media, but in a tearful social media post, he begged the public to help him get his baby back, going on to say, "He has never tried to bite no one."

Just when I think I am out, they pull me back in. Looks like another case for the Gumbo Gumshoe. Although with significantly less at stake, as I did not see any reward listed in the AP article, and Joie Henney seems like an attention-seeking weirdo. Still, Cal's on the case; let's get us a gator.

Reviewing the article for clues, there are several indications about what might have taken place. First, Joie and Wally were on vacation. Next, the nuisance gator who was captured around the same time. Finally, no police report.

The first and most likely scenario is also the simplest. Wally ran away. We have all been on vacations we never want to end. Wally the gator was living it up in Brunswick, Georgia. From the Marshes of Glynn to the Historic Ritz Theatre, Wally had fallen in love with the place and wanted nothing more than to sip some Sliver Bluff Brewing Company under Lover's Oak and never return to York Haven, Pennsylvania.

Next, the nuisance gator theory. Wally is an alligator, and while they are classified as an emotional support alligator, if you see a gator, you should call someone. Which is what happened. Wally, being as docile as is suggested by Joie, went happily along with the licensed trapper and was released in a remote location.

Finally, the truth. Joie Henney lost his "beloved" gator and did not think to file a police report or even talk to the media? Something stinks, and it is not the distinct and musky odor of a gator. Joie went out of his way to share that "Wally never bit no one." This was unprompted and makes it a bit curious. I propose Wally did, in fact, bite someone. Joie knew what was at stake for the regal reptile. So he fled and released Wally outside the home of someone to call a licensed trapper and put Wally in a wetland witness protection of sorts. Even though Joie knew it would kill him metaphorically, he could not allow for Wally to be killed literally…

I hope I am wrong. Unfortunately, I rarely am. I suspect Wally is out there somewhere in Glynn County missing Joie. I know Joie is back in York Haven planning his next emotional support attention grab. But, I hope I really do hope that Wally is on a permanent vacation in Blythe Island Regional Park. Where’s Wally? The world may never know.

AP News:

Title: Emotional support alligator 'Wally' found in GeorgiaURL: https://apnews.com/article/emotional-support-alligator-lost-wally-henney-georgia-84f4e843061e5b54a6880db479532c82

TripAdvisor:

Title: Attractions in Brunswick, Golden Isles of Georgia

URL: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g34802-Activities-Brunswick_Golden_Isles_of_Georgia_Georgia.html

Quora:

What do crocodiles and alligators smell like?

https://www.quora.com/What-do-crocodiles-and-alligators-smell-like