How did the alligator snapping turtle arrive in Arizona?

The alligator snapping turtle orginaly arrived in Arizona like many non-native species. Through the pet trade. People buy these as babies in pet stores when they are about the size of a golfball for around $30 and have no idea males can reach and regularly exceed 200lbs full grown. An adult can consume nearly 15 lbs of food a food and between the size and diet requiements that's like feeding another child. Thus people let them go with no thought to the effects. it's the same story with alligators. Unlike alligators however snapping turtles never leave the water except once a year when the female goes on land to lay eggs. As such they can hide for years in local waterways and ponds and noone has a clue.