Pudding
02 Jul 2009, 11:05
Stories like this (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Pet-Burmese-Python-Kills-Child-Shaiunna-Hare-Oxford-Florida-Snake-Owned-By-Charles-Jason-Darnell/Article/200907115327649?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_2&lid=ARTICLE_15327649_Pet_Burmese_Python_Kills_Child_Shaiunna_Hare%3A_O xford_Florida_Snake_Owned_By_Charles_Jason_Darnell) make my blood curdle with rage through complete irresponsible stupidity of the parents :evil:
A family has been left distraught after a huge pet snake escaped from its cage and strangled their young child.
Two-year-old Shaiunna Hare was already dead by the time a rescue crew arrived at her family home near Oxford, Florida, on Wednesday morning.
The family's pet Burmese python, measuring more than 8ft long, had broken out of its terrarium sometime during the night.
Charles Jason Darnell, the snake's owner and the boyfriend of Shaiunna's mother, discovered the snake missing and went to the girl's room, where he found "the snake on the child" and bite marks on her head.
Mr Darnell dialled emergency services pleading for help.
"Our Burmese python got out of the cage last night and got into the baby's crib and strangled her to death," a tearful Mr Darnell told the emergency operator.
The 32-year-old grabbed a knife and stabbed the albino snake until it loosened its crushing grip on the toddler.
Authorities later found the animal under furniture and removed it from their small home - bordered by cow fields - along with another six-foot snake.
Two other children and Shaiunna's mother, 23-year-old Jaren Ashley Hare, who were sleeping in the small tan-coloured bungalow, were not harmed.
Mr Darnell told deputies he placed the larger snake in a bag, which he put in an aquarium on Tuesday night and then discovered the snake had escaped when he woke on Wednesday morning.
"This is a very sad situation," Sumter County Sheriff Bill Farmer said.
"To keep a large, unsecured snake in the house is just asking for trouble."
Mr Darnell did not have a permit for the snakes and a vet is determining whether the reptiles should be put down.
Although no charges have been laid but investigators are looking into whether there was child neglect or if any other laws were broken.
A family has been left distraught after a huge pet snake escaped from its cage and strangled their young child.
Two-year-old Shaiunna Hare was already dead by the time a rescue crew arrived at her family home near Oxford, Florida, on Wednesday morning.
The family's pet Burmese python, measuring more than 8ft long, had broken out of its terrarium sometime during the night.
Charles Jason Darnell, the snake's owner and the boyfriend of Shaiunna's mother, discovered the snake missing and went to the girl's room, where he found "the snake on the child" and bite marks on her head.
Mr Darnell dialled emergency services pleading for help.
"Our Burmese python got out of the cage last night and got into the baby's crib and strangled her to death," a tearful Mr Darnell told the emergency operator.
The 32-year-old grabbed a knife and stabbed the albino snake until it loosened its crushing grip on the toddler.
Authorities later found the animal under furniture and removed it from their small home - bordered by cow fields - along with another six-foot snake.
Two other children and Shaiunna's mother, 23-year-old Jaren Ashley Hare, who were sleeping in the small tan-coloured bungalow, were not harmed.
Mr Darnell told deputies he placed the larger snake in a bag, which he put in an aquarium on Tuesday night and then discovered the snake had escaped when he woke on Wednesday morning.
"This is a very sad situation," Sumter County Sheriff Bill Farmer said.
"To keep a large, unsecured snake in the house is just asking for trouble."
Mr Darnell did not have a permit for the snakes and a vet is determining whether the reptiles should be put down.
Although no charges have been laid but investigators are looking into whether there was child neglect or if any other laws were broken.