09:24 PM CDT on Tuesday, June 1, 2004

From 11 News Staff Reports

RICHMOND -- A rancher found dead in Richmond over the weekend was attacked by bees as he rode his tractor.

Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday that the victim, 54-year-old Bruce Harrison, was found dead on Saturday next to a tractor on property in the 22350 block of Canal Road.

A ranch foreman discovered the body and called deputies.

KHOU-TV The victim was mowing his pasture when the bees attacked.

Investigators believe the victim was attacked by bees before accidentally falling off a tractor/shredder. The victim suffered apparent lacerations from the shredder and multiple bee stings. The preliminary autopsy report from the Galveston County Medical Examiner indicates the victim died from hemorrhaging with secondary causes being heart disease and multiple bee stings.

Investigators found two bee hives on the ranch but no sign of bees.

"It is rather rare. It could be that there's a third hive of bees that could be killer bees or Africanized bees," said Fort Bend County Sheriff Milton Wright. "It could be also that the domesticated bees, there on the property, could have been infiltrated by the Africanized bees. And they will eventually turn from domesticated and pick up the characteristics of killer bees."

State agricultural experts will take a look at the hives on the ranch.

Deputies say they've had several bee attacks in recent years, but no fatalities.

Harrison's death remains under investigation.