Mitchell Guist

Mitchell James Guist, was an alligator hunter and reality television star who starred in the television show Swamp People until his death on May 14, 2012, from natural causes.

Early life

Mitchell Guist was born in 1964 in Gonzales, Louisiana, and lived with his brother, Glenn, for his entire life. Mitchell spent most of his early life with his parents until he was 18 and moved into his own home in the bayou with Glenn.

TV career

In 2011, Mitchell and Glenn became stars on the History Channel's reality show, Swamp People. They became instant stars on the History Channel and had a fan club. On Swamp People they would regularly be featured hunting for their dinner which included alligator gar, blue catfish, crayfish, cottontail rabbit, squirrel, bullfrog, alligator snapping turtle, and once by accident an American alligator.
Mitchell and Glenn were both featured in a Swamp People special where they hunted cottontail rabbits, later trading them for snapping turtles.
Mitchell and Glenn were also featured in the 2012 third season of Swamp People.

Death

On May 14, 2012, Mitchell Guist suffered an accident on the Belle River near Pierre Part. According to authorities he slipped and fell while loading items onto his boat. It was initially reported that he suffered a seizure, but it is unclear whether the seizure was a result of the fall or if it was caused by a medical condition. It was later revealed that Guist suffered a heart attack. Guist was pronounced dead at a Morgan [City, Louisiana|Morgan City] hospital; the coroner for Ascension Parish later determined that his death was due to natural causes. He died 4 days before his 48th birthday. He was buried at Lusk Cemetery in Gonzales, Louisiana. The "Voodoo Bayou" episode of Swamp People, originally aired on May 17, 2012, was dedicated in Guist's memory.