Charges Expected in Fl Python Case « Liveshots

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Charges Expected in Fl Python Case

July 2, 2009 - 7:13 PM | by: Serafin Gomez

Police are expected to bring charges against the owner of a pet python that strangled a 2-year-old Florida girl in her crib, killing her, Fox News Dot Com reports.

From their article:

A Sumter County Sheriffs employee, who is not authorized to speak about the case, told FOXNews.com that charges are coming but wouldn't elaborate because investigators still are working on the specifics. The charges likely won't be filed on Thursday. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

**Here is the link to the 911 call**

*photos &*Video of Authorities Catching Python*

July 1, 2009

Miami, Fl- A 2 year old girl was strangled to death by a 12-foot pet Burmese python this morning in Oxford, a small town in western Florida. The albino python lived in the same house as the girl, Shaiunna Hare, and was owned by Charles Darnell, the live-in boyfriend of the toddler's mother, Jaren Ashley Hare, authorities say.Darnell discovered the snake strangling the 2 year old in her bed this morning, and repeatedly stabbed it to free the child from the reptile's grip, but it was too late, the girl was already dead. Darnell told investigators that the snake had escaped overnight from from the terrarium he kept it in. FL Wildlife officials say the python was kept illegally by Darnell who did not have a license for an animal that can grow up to 25 feet. A short time ago, MyFoxTampa shot video of authorities placing the python into bag at the crime scene. It is unclear whether they will euthanize it. Authorities are looking into whether criminal charges should be applied in this tragic case. See video here:

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77 Comments

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Dave from Austin, TX

The child's mother is at fault. She should have made her live-in boyfriend choose between her and the snake.

July 4, 2009 at 11:17 AM

Steve

The parents were negligent. They kept a dangerous animal in the home without locking it up as required by law. It had already escaped the aquarium once that same day and they didn't ensure it couldn't happen again. This is no different than a child dying because he had access to an unlocked firearm. They should be charged. They child is dead because of their negligence. It was not an accident. I am applalled that any parent would allow a predatory animal anywhere near their own children. These exotic animals should not be kept as pets in my opinion. They are wild animals and run purely on instinct. This snake must be destroyed as it killed a human. It sounds like some poeple think the snake has rights. Ridiculous!

July 3, 2009 at 6:44 PM

A from FL

If you don't know the person, don't judge. This was simply a tragic accident that occured.

July 3, 2009 at 8:29 AM

Bob from Kentucky

I think Fox news crossed the line by playing that 911 tape of the crying man. It didn't really add anything to the story..........just pure sensationalism.

July 2, 2009 at 5:06 PM

Confused

I don't think the snake should be euthanized. Even though it lived in the home, it's still an animal and as such will act like one. You can't punish an animal for being what it is. However, the parents need to be punished for acting carelessly and negligently. The boyfriend should also be punished for having the snake,not just without a permit, but for having it at all. People need to learn that animals that are considered "wild" or "exotic" have no place in a domesticated home. That poor baby didn't stand a chance against that snake. So very sad.

July 2, 2009 at 1:43 PM

Renell

My Grandson had one 2 yrs. ago with a new born in the house, after I threaten to call social service he got rid of it. Same could have happened to my beautiful great-grandson. All parents and grandparents should exercise this call.

July 2, 2009 at 1:37 PM

liz

The 2 adults should be put in prison for murder! The snake was doing WHAT IT DOES NATURALLY! The HUMANS are morons! Lock them up!

July 2, 2009 at 1:35 PM

Michael Becker

I am shaking my koran in anger!!

July 2, 2009 at 1:32 PM

Barry

It is a shame that this kid had to die because some moron wanted to keep an illegal animal. The adults here are obviously white trash, low class idiots who should not be caring for children or even reproducing.

July 2, 2009 at 1:29 PM

Re: Kara

Oh, get off it. This is not about abortion. Not even close. It is about a tragedy having to do with this poor child. Why do pro-lifers turn EVERYTHING into an argument about abortion? It gets so tiring.

July 2, 2009 at 1:26 PM

chris

R U KIDDING ME!!! Who the hell keeps a 12ft snake in there home...Wake up people!!!!!

July 2, 2009 at 1:21 PM

Kara

I find it very distrubing that so many people want to charge these parents for murder. This was an accident. Could it have been prevented? Yes. But what alarms me even more is that there are few who would cry murder if this sweet little girl were murdered in her mother's womb. Who would cry murder if her arms and legs were being ripped off by a Doctor? Who would cry murder if she were being burned with a saline solution? I wonder if the many who said that these people should not be allowed to "breed" would rather that a doctor kill this little one.

July 2, 2009 at 1:18 PM

dude

Most of these comments are irrational. We cannot blame the family or the snake. A question for all the parents in the crowd. Do you own a dog or cat? If so you can be considered one of the "underdeveloped brains" too. Both these pets are capable of killing a baby but yet we live everday happy with taking that chance. This was just a very tragic and rare situation that happened here we have no right to judge the family that has lost their loved one. Stop and think how you would feel if it happend in your home!! Peace!

July 2, 2009 at 1:16 PM

Meeka

You ned a permit for a snake but no permit to be a parent. Life....how wonderful.

July 2, 2009 at 1:11 PM

Outraged

Do NOT kill the snake! It was not the snake's fault. Poor thing was only doing what comes naturally. The adults need to be held responsible and charged as such.

July 2, 2009 at 1:03 PM

JJ

I'm glad some of you all aren't Attorneys or Judges or "REAL" Decision Makers. The Snake idea, I agree; it's an animal and it has certain innate instincts. However, ever animal can be domesticated, and in most cases has been. That said, while domesticating Wild animals is frequent, it IS the Property owner's Primary responsibilty to maintain the animal's surrounding for it's comfort AND provide the necessary security to protect others in the event the animal becomes uncomfortable with the surroundings. The death of a child for whatever reason is Horrible. However, these two people do not deserve life in jail as many of you irrational, mob mentality, "get your pitch forks" no brainers suggest. The property owner--in this case the boyfriend should be charged with negligient homicide and be required to release the animal from his custody either back to the animal's orignal environment, or given to a zoo or animal reserve where it belongs sine it's been domesticated. The mother should also be charge with negligience, but in no way should she be charged with the death of her own child. The boyfriend regardless of the presence of a child should have had a primary environment for the animal with provisional security ALONG WITH secondary provisions for security should the first fail. The boyfriend's lack of logical preparation for caring for both snake and others IS negligient AND should be charged w/ negligient homicide.

July 2, 2009 at 1:01 PM

Mike from Florida

I certainly wouldn't want a 12' python around my children, just as I wouldn't want them around a pit bull. I don't care if it was the boyfriends, they both should be in trouble for allowing this to occur. You can see an accidnetal drowning, but when you should have control over the environment, this shouldn't occur.

July 2, 2009 at 12:57 PM

dianeremarx

Why are we allowing these rare and dangerous animals to be owned by people who obviously don't know how to properly care for them? Dangerous snakes, tigers, lions, etc., should never be allowed to be in someone's home. It is dangerous for people in the home and for the neighbors. How many more deaths are going to happen before laws are put in place. These animals should never be imported... EVER!! They belong in a zoo or in the wild.

July 2, 2009 at 12:50 PM

Don

I've known people over the years who had a genuine interest in snakes. No problem. To each their own. Personally my attitude towards snakes is that I leave them alone if they leave me alone. But---when you have small children in your home, you should know not to have a potentially dangerous animal in your home. Something will have to be done to address the problem of letting pythons loose in warm weather states though. After all, they are an invasive species in this case. Morons shouldn't be allowed to own dangerous animals or dangerous weapons. My condolences to that childs family. Very sad story.

July 2, 2009 at 12:50 PM

Annie

This is a terrible tragedy that could easily have been prevented. Snakes do not belong as pets- what was this mother thinking- allowing her boyfriend to have this in a house with her 2 year old..SICK.

July 2, 2009 at 12:44 PM

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