Florida Toddler Killed by Pet Python
Published by ken bultman on July 2, 2009 in USA & Canada-
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Snake’s owner facing child endangerment charges.
A two-year-old girl was found dead Wednesday morning (July 1) in her Sumpter County, Florida home after being strangled by a 12-foot pet albino Burmese python.
Deputies said the snake’s owner is the 32 year old boyfriend of the toddler’s mother. He told investigators he had locked the reptile in an aquarium-like container Tuesday night but awoke to find it missing. He found it wrapped around the little girl and noted bite marks on her head. He stabbed the snake with a knife–later reports indicated the animal is dead.
Another child was also in the house at the time along with another snake–a six-foot boa constrictor. Pythons are not native to Florida and require a permit which the owner could not produce. He faces a second degree misdemeanor charge and will likely be charged with child endangerment.
image via wikipedia
Burmese pythons are becoming all too common in the Florida wilds having been released by pet owners who no long wish to keep the reptiles when they become to large. In addition, many of the snakes were freed from exotic pet shops in south Florida during Hurricane Andrew and are flourishing in the Everglades. A spokesman for Sea World in Orlando said pythons are always looking for something to eat and caged pythons are always looking for a way to get out.
Typically, the Burmese python grows no longer than 20 feet however, one at Serpent Safari in Gurnee, Illinois, measures 27 feet and weighs in at 27 feet. They will eat almost anything. It was documented in the Everglades when a large python ate an alligator and literally exploded.
According to the Humane Society, 12 humans have been killed by Burmese pythons since 1980–five of them children. Add one more Florida toddler.
That is really tragic and sad.
I respect snakes, but I’m happy that our local ones come in manageable sizes. Since this is not the first infant death on record by pythons or constrictors, I think the mother should have thought not twice but once: do not leave an infant sleeping in a house with a large snake. This is a horrible tragedy.
Oh My God. who in their right minds would take a risk Like that with children about , and look at the loss and the pain , How horrific
Sad. I hope they throw the book at him. Some critters should not be considered as pets. Snakes are not something that can be trained or corrected.
Good article with a sad outcome.
That’s so sad and not the first story of that happening. If you can’t take care of the pet you shouldn’t have one. If small children are around you shouldn’t have one like that anyway! Sheesh some people.
Such a needless loss of life. Snakes, I don’t think, should be pets.Well reported.
Even though I believe the kid is in Heaven, I also think that things like that could be avoided. Pets should be pets, and in order to be petted they should be preferable small, manageable, and nice. Otherwise, they could become a nuisance, and many a time a great danger, for kids and adults.
Child endangerment? That’s it? How about involuntary manslaughter? There is definitely something wrong with the laws in Florida.
Goes for my case against having snakes for pets. Such a sad tale.
An outstanding article all around Ken,very intersting and informative,however;very sad.Poor little girl.I read about the document case about the snake eating tha alligater,scary to say the least.A very enjoyable read, as always phenominal work ken.
WOah. She was strangled to dead! I don’t think I wanna go to FLorida anymore.
damn O_O people keep strange pets these days…. what happened to cats and dogs? O_o
Hope we could label this one as a “tale of the weird” -unfortunate in any case. Thanks Ken!
That’s too gruesome. I left a 10 foot pet retic python in the Philippines and I wonder if it could strangle me when it doesn’t recognize me upon my return. Of course animals are animals and we couldn’t blame them for being such as it is their instinct (which we unfortunately imitate sometimes). Thanks for the news my friend.
“Child Endangerment” ?? What about “involuntary manslaughter” ?? Punish these people !!!!!!!!!
Why did he have to kill the poor snake?
my heart goes to the little girl. I cannot imagine what she went through. You are in heaven now sweetheart and I am sorry that you have an irresponsible parents. It was a short life and I will never forget this story.
Good that the people were charged, not only did the guy not have a permit to own the snake.. he didnt have a secure enclosure for it. 2 deaths that could have been prevented.
Burms, and other large constrictors are only dangerous in the wrong hands. I have no less than 30 snakes, 15 of which will poss reach 18feet. I also have a toddler. A locked room (like mine) would have made this impossible.