Remember, toddler killed by python

[garyo]

The mother and live-in boyfriend of the toddler killed by a burmese python in Oxford, Fl. were charged today with: 3rd degree murder, manslaughter of a child and felony child abuse. It was also reported today that the snake belonged to the mother and not the boyfriend as previously reported.

Gary

 

[LittleRibbie]

Good They Should Be !! Horrible horrible story!

 

[AppyLover2]

That IS good news!!

 

[Marty]

I can imagine that the mother is already torturing herself in her own private he-ll anyway and she doesn't care what happens to herself now.

 

[Minimor]

Good, they SHOULD be charged. Hopefully they will be convicted too.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

I missed this story- what happened?

Leia

 

[garyo]

I missed this story- what happened?

Leia

A little girl in Florida, near us, was killed when a pet Burmese python escaped from it's cage and wrapped itself around her as she slept. The mothers boyfriend discovered the python on the girl and stabbed it to get it off.

The snake had previously gotten out earlier that same evening, so they covered the cage with a blanket. The snake of course got out again and killed the child.

The snake was confiscated by the sheriffs department as stabbing it did not kill it. It is eight and one half feet long.

There was also other large snakes in the house.

Sad story

Gary

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Thanks Gary, I agree that's very sad. Hope there's more to the story for them to be convicted of murder and child abuse though.

I was allowed to run loose around 1,000lb hooved animals who could have easily killed me as a child- did my parents deserve to go to jail if a horse had kicked me in the head? That's a tragedy, not a murder. Wow.

Leia

 

[crponies]

Leia, I do believe they were also keeping this snake illegally as well. Perhaps some of it is just the kind of risks that are perceived to be "normal" in our culture. It is pretty normal for a child to be around horses but not really common for people to keep large snakes in the house especially in a tank from which they can easily escape.

 

[Sue_C.]

Thanks Gary, I agree that's very sad. Hope there's more to the story for them to be convicted of murder and child abuse though. I was allowed to run loose around 1,000lb hooved animals who could have easily killed me as a child- did my parents deserve to go to jail if a horse had kicked me in the head? That's a tragedy, not a murder. Wow.

A tragedy, for sure...I agree...not murder. This will open a "can of worms" if they are convicted. What about parents of small children who are injured or killed by the family dog, or horse, or pony, or any other pet that might be able to cause injury or death? I think the reason there is so much upset about this one is that snakes are notoriously disliked...if it had been a dog, this wouldn't even be considered...yet lots of people have dangerous breeds of animals with their children and don't even think about it.

 

[garyo]

I think it is the lack of supervision and lack of proper facilities to cage the snake that is bringing on the charges. I don't think any charges would have been filed if the snake was in a secure cage and somehow managed to escape, but knowing that the snake had gotten out earlier and simply covering the cage with a blanket was not proper. The adults surely put the childs life in danger by not caging the animal properly. Quite different then being kicked by a horse, unless he lived in the house. LOL

Gary

PS: I am not a big fan of snakes. We have had 9 people in the Tampa Bay area this summer bit by pigmy rattlers

 

[Boss Mare]

n

Thanks Gary, I agree that's very sad. Hope there's more to the story for them to be convicted of murder and child abuse though.

I was allowed to run loose around 1,000lb hooved animals who could have easily killed me as a child- did my parents deserve to go to jail if a horse had kicked me in the head? That's a tragedy, not a murder. Wow.
Leia

Agreed!

I personally own 18 snakes.. kept in 1 room / dogs (dachshunds) are not allowed in there (no children yet / but it will be an off limits room for children) and it is seal / door, cages, etc. are locked and keyed.. AND we have an actual wall unit cage system plus extra.. Yet I was still hated for my reptile crew.. ohh.. well..

I am sure if you searched you could pull up pics of some of my snakes.. I, however have added to my 'herd'..

 

[Minimor]

I do suspect the charges stem from how the snake was housed, and from the fact that they kept the snake in such a careless way when there was a small child in the home--a small child that they had to know could be harmed by the snake if it were to get out and find its way to her.

It's one thing for a child to be around horses--it would be quite different if the family kept horse which were known to be dangerous to children, and the parents still encouraged the child to go out around those horses, or allowed those horses into the child's play/sleep area. It's not just a matter of having the horses.

Same thing with dogs--it's not a crime to have a dog in the house with your small child, but if you have a dog which you know is dangerous, especially to small children, and you leave that dog alone in the bedroom/house/car with your small child and the dog harms that child....then it may be viewed as something worse than negligence on your part.

 

[Gizzmoe]

Countless times after this happened. The news programs I listened to said the snake was improperly housed. As was also noted it had already gotten out once before this happened. This snake as well as many others that they had were improperly caged and also illegally owned as their were no proper permits for the ones that were suppose to have it. The charges are not brought up because of the snake killing the girl, but rather because they were neglient on many accounts. You can not own something and not be responsible for its actions especially if you have not taken proper precautions for it. It would be a lot like owning a horse and not having proper fencing for it. If it got out and you did not fix the problem properly. If it were to get out the same way again, end up in the road and killing someone that hits it. Is it just a tragedy or are you suppose to take responsiblity for a problem you did not fix that was known about.