Reported By Heather Sorentrue
OXFORD -- A 2-year-old child is dead after being strangled by a Burmese python.
Shaiunna Hare died in her home in Oxford, just off of County Road 466, east of The Villages.
Deputies and workers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the 8-foot-5-inch snake was a family pet that broke free from inside a glass aquarium in the home's living room.
The snake then made its way to the girl's bedroom and apparently strangled her to death in the middle of the night.
Charles Darnell, the snake's owner, found the snake on top of the girl Wednesday after noticing the snake was missing from her aquarium.
Lt. Joy Hill from Florida Fish and WIldlife said the snake is not venomous. It is a constrictor, meaning that it suffocates its victims.
Below is a portion of the 911 call released Wednesday.
Darnell: Our snake, we have a Burmese python. She's about 12-foot long. She got out of the cage last night and got into the baby's crib and strangled her to death. I'm so sorry.
Dispatcher: Sir, can you still hear me? Do you believe she is beyond any help?
Darnell: Yes ma'am I think she is gone (inaudible) help her.
Deputies said the snake’s owner could face child endangerment charges. Fish and Wildlife workers told News 13 the pet was not registered with them.
Fish and Wildlife said there was also a 6-foot boa constrictor in the house.
Both snakes were removed from the home Wednesday afternoon. The python was still alive.
Dealing With Danger
Experts who deal with these types of snakes every day said they are not something to mess with.
At Gatorland, they have the same type of Burmese python involved in the Sumter County incident.
They point out that to own one in Florida, you have to have a permit along with an emergency plan in place to deal with anything that could come up.
“They are very big. They are very powerful, and this animal is large enough if it were to get around my throat, it could very easily, possibly make me succumb. So, be aware. They make nice pets if you're a responsible pet owner,” said Tim Williams from Gatorland.
Gatorland said they always use two people when handling the snakes because of the danger they can pose.
Prior Python Problems
This isn't the first time a Burmese python has made headlines in Central Florida.
Back in 2007, a huge 15-foot snake was found in front of a Holly Hill home.
Authorities said the homeowner kept seeing the snake move across his front porch.
He called police, who called in critter control to help.
Experts said at the time it was possible the reptile could have killed cats, dogs, and even children if it wasn't captured.
It was believed someone may have had it as a pet and then simply let it go into the wild when it got too big.
Paying For Pets
There's been a big push in recent years against people keeping pets like pythons at home.
In 2007, owners of Burmese pythons and other non-native reptiles were hit with a $100 annual fee to own one of the animals.
The change was made because the state said too many people were buying pythons when they are small, and then releasing them into the wild when they become too hard to handle.
Pythons can grow to 20 feet long.
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