rockin'robin
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OXFORD, Fla. -- A man woke up Wednesday morning and found his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter being strangled by his 12-foot pet albino Burmese python, according to Sumter County sheriff's officials.
The fatal incident occurred at about 10 a.m. at a residence in the 1500 block of county Road 466 in Oxford, which is located about 60 miles northwest of Orlando.
The snake apparently escaped from its cage overnight and strangled the Shaunnia Hare, who was also bitten on the forehead, Sumter County sheriff's deputies said.
WKMG-TV reported that Charles Darnell, who owns the snake, woke up and found the snake's enclosure empty. He went in the girl's room and found the snake wrapped around the girl's neck. He stabbed the animal and pulled the girl away before calling 911, deputies said.
Emergency workers could not revive the girl. The medical examiner was called to the Sumter County house, and an investigation into the death is ongoing.
Darnell also owns a 6-foot boa constrictor, but it did not escpae from the terrarium.
The snakes were removed from the house late Wednesday afternoon after a search warrant was obtained to allow deputies and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to go inside the house.
The 2-year-old girl's mother, Jaren Hare, was also inside the home at the time of the incident, deputies said.
Detectives are questioning Hare and Darnell at the sheriff's office.
A Department of Children and Families official said the organization believes that two other children were in the home at the time of the incident, but it is unknown if they live there or were just staying temporarily.
According to snake expert Scott Hardin of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Burmese python owners must have a license to keep the snake as a pet. The license costs $100 a year and mandates specific caging requirements. [View FWC Rules For Keeping Exotic Snakes]
Hardin said the Burmese python is a popular pet because it is considered to be more docile than other snakes. He said the risk of a human attack is low, and attacks typically involve the snake's owner or immediate family.
The Humane Society of the United States said including Wednesday's death, at least 12 people have been killed in the United States by pet pythons since 1980, including five children.
Matt Harrison, a Critter Control employee who has worked with pythons for more than eight years, said the animals are extremely strong.
"A 12-foot snake is kind of like having a truck sitting on your chest. They have enough power not only to asphyxiate you, but to break bones as well," said Harrison, who added that stabbing a python would not force the animal to release its prey.
Harrison suggested throwing alcohol down the snake's throat or running hot water over it to get it to release its prey.
Harrison urged owners to be careful with pet pythons.
"Most (of) the time, as long as you're careful, you don't have anything to worry about, but occasionally, they can turn on their owners," Harrison said.
Harrison said attacks tend to be a feeding response, but he said it is important to keep cages secure and safe, especially when there are children in the house.
Harrison speculated that there are probably more pythons in Florida than anywhere else in the United States.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, pythons are a nonnative species to Florida, although some Burmese pythons have been found in parts of Florida.
An invasion of giant Burmese pythons in South Florida that made national headlines last year was "rapidly expanding" and expected to reach Central Florida, according to a University of Florida study.
"There's no part of this state that you can point at and say that pythons couldn't live here," researcher Frank Mazzotti said. "They're capable of incredible movement -- and in a relatively short period."
Most of the pythons were brought over as pets and then turned loose in the wild, he said.
Anyone who comes across a python is urged to call wildlife officials at 888-404-FWCC. For more information about pythons, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Escaped Pet Python Strangles Toddler - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
The fatal incident occurred at about 10 a.m. at a residence in the 1500 block of county Road 466 in Oxford, which is located about 60 miles northwest of Orlando.
The snake apparently escaped from its cage overnight and strangled the Shaunnia Hare, who was also bitten on the forehead, Sumter County sheriff's deputies said.
WKMG-TV reported that Charles Darnell, who owns the snake, woke up and found the snake's enclosure empty. He went in the girl's room and found the snake wrapped around the girl's neck. He stabbed the animal and pulled the girl away before calling 911, deputies said.
Emergency workers could not revive the girl. The medical examiner was called to the Sumter County house, and an investigation into the death is ongoing.
Darnell also owns a 6-foot boa constrictor, but it did not escpae from the terrarium.
The snakes were removed from the house late Wednesday afternoon after a search warrant was obtained to allow deputies and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to go inside the house.
The 2-year-old girl's mother, Jaren Hare, was also inside the home at the time of the incident, deputies said.
Detectives are questioning Hare and Darnell at the sheriff's office.
A Department of Children and Families official said the organization believes that two other children were in the home at the time of the incident, but it is unknown if they live there or were just staying temporarily.
According to snake expert Scott Hardin of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Burmese python owners must have a license to keep the snake as a pet. The license costs $100 a year and mandates specific caging requirements. [View FWC Rules For Keeping Exotic Snakes]
Hardin said the Burmese python is a popular pet because it is considered to be more docile than other snakes. He said the risk of a human attack is low, and attacks typically involve the snake's owner or immediate family.
The Humane Society of the United States said including Wednesday's death, at least 12 people have been killed in the United States by pet pythons since 1980, including five children.
Matt Harrison, a Critter Control employee who has worked with pythons for more than eight years, said the animals are extremely strong.
"A 12-foot snake is kind of like having a truck sitting on your chest. They have enough power not only to asphyxiate you, but to break bones as well," said Harrison, who added that stabbing a python would not force the animal to release its prey.
Harrison suggested throwing alcohol down the snake's throat or running hot water over it to get it to release its prey.
Harrison urged owners to be careful with pet pythons.
"Most (of) the time, as long as you're careful, you don't have anything to worry about, but occasionally, they can turn on their owners," Harrison said.
Harrison said attacks tend to be a feeding response, but he said it is important to keep cages secure and safe, especially when there are children in the house.
Harrison speculated that there are probably more pythons in Florida than anywhere else in the United States.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, pythons are a nonnative species to Florida, although some Burmese pythons have been found in parts of Florida.
An invasion of giant Burmese pythons in South Florida that made national headlines last year was "rapidly expanding" and expected to reach Central Florida, according to a University of Florida study.
"There's no part of this state that you can point at and say that pythons couldn't live here," researcher Frank Mazzotti said. "They're capable of incredible movement -- and in a relatively short period."
Most of the pythons were brought over as pets and then turned loose in the wild, he said.
Anyone who comes across a python is urged to call wildlife officials at 888-404-FWCC. For more information about pythons, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Escaped Pet Python Strangles Toddler - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
