Parents of Child killed by Burm to be charged with manslaughter/third-degree murder

I believe there is a special word for these kinds of people. To keep it clean, we will refer to them as idiots. Investigative reports into the Python that killed the Florida toddler showed that the snake had not been fed a single meal for a month. The 8-foot-6-inch python weighed less than 13 pounds, "at least half what healthy pythons that size should weigh" as stated by Andrew Wyatt of USARK. So obviously it had been underfed for a lot longer than a month. The mother of the child's mother had said that she had offered to buy rats for the snake, get sealed containers, and keep the snakes herself but had been turned down. The python was being kept in a 150 gallon tank with a quilt as a lid and had escaped 10 times since it was last fed. The animal, which was stabbed when found coiled around the girl, has recovered and is being held by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Shame they can't legally shoot these people. :rage:

This is a bad situation, that went bad so fast. I feel bad for the child and the snake, The parents like you said are idiots.

This is unfortunate. Hearing stories like this makes me upset. I can't see how people can be so blind.

Glad these people are getting charged, why would using a quilt as a tank cover sound like a good idea?

firstly its not the snakes fault it has every right to eat what ever it wants it doesn't know any better its just an animal and did the snake kill the little girl???

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Originally Posted by dembonez

firstly its not the snakes fault it has every right to eat what ever it wants it doesn't know any better its just an animal and did the snake kill the little girl???

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Yes the snake killed the little girl, I'm glad the parents are being charged.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

Yes the snake killed the little girl, I'm glad the parents are being charged.

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feed the parents to the snake? :rofl:

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Originally Posted by smd58

The parents like you said are idiots.

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agreeded

things like this make me hate peolpe at times. there are so many things she could have done. my self I have a 3 year little boy.

this is why the human race should have to pass an i.q test to have children.. not keep that to concieve a child. not too mention the extensive testing that should be required to keep any species of animal especially ones like giant pythons, venomous.. this list will just enclude all species kept as captive pets so ill save us both the time of typing and reading :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by dembonez

feed the parents to the snake? :rofl:

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what and poison the poor snake with substandard food:D
I personally thingk the parents should be charged ( without a plea bargain) then any asset sold off to supprot the snake until it dies or has been safly rehomed with an perso nthat shows proper papers on file and whatever the state regs are now.

Jeez, It's about time...

Thats just terrible not only did they mistreat an animal when they had offers to help with it they also cased small child to be killed in the process :(

A QUILT?!!!??!?! Are you freaking KIDDING ME??!! A freaking QUILT??!?!??! What MORON would use a quilt as a LID for an 8 foot Burmese Python??! I can't even fathom the stupidity of those parents.

The parents should also be charged for animal negligence and child negligence.

I hope they get charged and sentenced as well. I can't believe the grandmother didn't take further action; I know I would have! Who knows what other kind of horrible conditions those poor kids(there were 2 others in the house aside from the toddler)were subjected to thanks to these "parents".. A term I use VERY loosely with those 2!!

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Originally Posted by Bellabob

A QUILT?!!!??!?! Are you freaking KIDDING ME??!! A freaking QUILT??!?!??! What MORON would use a quilt as a LID for an 8 foot Burmese Python??! I can't even fathom the stupidity of those parents.

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From what I can remember of the news articles, they say they had it in a pillowcase that was tied, the night it escaped :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by ShortStack

I hope they get charged and sentenced as well. I can't believe the grandmother didn't take further action; I know I would have! Who knows what other kind of horrible conditions those poor kids(there were 2 others in the house aside from the toddler)were subjected to thanks to these "parents".. A term I use VERY loosely with those 2!!

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Or, we could not speculate on unprovable suppositions.

The kid died. The drug addict parents are responsible.

The drug addict parents had a snake that was not housed properly and kept illegally.

Facts.

Maybe until just weeks prior to this tragic end they had been wonderful drug free parents providing a warm and nurturing environment for the child, going so far as to introduce exotic animals and who knows what other delights to the young human.

Probably not, indeed unlikely, but no more provable than your speculation.

Both have no worth at all.

The fact that such an animal was kept in those conditions would have been enough for me to make a call to whoever I needed to make sure my grandchildren were safe. What possible reason could they have to deny her help? She offered to feed it, buy secure enclosures, or keep it at her home. It's pure stupidity that they denied it and it's why their child died. I never said the kids were for sure in danger, but you never know. If they're in one dangerous situation, they could be an many others. Why not make one anonymous phone call to ensure their safety and well being?

I have no idea the kind of parents they were up to that point. But at that point, yes I use the term loosely with them. Fact: Their irresponsibility resulted in their child's death. All I need to know.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

From what I can remember of the news articles, they say they had it in a pillowcase that was tied, the night it escaped :rolleyes:

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The article I read from the Times Union(in Jacksonville)said that the 150 gallon tak was covered with a quilt. When the snake got out the first time that night, the boyfriend reported that he placed the snake in a mesh bag, with a hole about the size of a baseball in it, and then placed the snake in the tank. Not sure how accurate it is, but just what I read.

I was horrified when I first heard this story. It is still sad that a child died due to gross negligence. I am also glad that the scope of that negligence is coming to light and that perhaps the people whom condemn all owners of snakes will perhaps understand that the snake was not truly responsible for the child's death but the parent's negligence was.

Sadly, Kite, most of the time when things like this happen, people go into hysteria mode. You end up with a mob of people with pitchforks ready to get rid of all the animals because they will attack us! All of a sudden it doesn't matter how many "good" ones there are out there, they are all "bad" because they belong to a certain species or breed. Any animal has the ability to harm and become dangerous, no matter how "gentle" or "tame" it was in the past. People seem to forget that and become lax with the animal, not respecting their power and ability. The key is education. Many people get animals because they're "cool" or whatnot, and don't really know what they're getting themselves into. Hopefully out of this tragedy, some good will emerge. Both for children, adults, and the pets.

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Originally Posted by ShortStack

Sadly, Kite, most of the time when things like this happen, people go into hysteria mode. You end up with a mob of people with pitchforks ready to get rid of all the animals because they will attack us! All of a sudden it doesn't matter how many "good" ones there are out there, they are all "bad" because they belong to a certain species or breed. Any animal has the ability to harm and become dangerous, no matter how "gentle" or "tame" it was in the past. People seem to forget that and become lax with the animal, not respecting their power and ability. The key is education. Many people get animals because they're "cool" or whatnot, and don't really know what they're getting themselves into. Hopefully out of this tragedy, some good will emerge. Both for children, adults, and the pets.

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I agree with you 100%
Well said! :gj:

You know. this is going to be another reason for the USA to try and ban these snakes again. :mad:

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Originally Posted by ShortStack

Sadly, Kite, most of the time when things like this happen, people go into hysteria mode.

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Another thing you get is well intentioned people repeating as fact unsubstantiated statements.

Do you actually know that grandma made these offers? If so, how?

It's just as likely that she was supplying the drugs they were taking, got scared when the baby died, and made up all that about buying food and offering to keep.

She may also have felt guilty about NOT doing those things before the baby was killed, and some still think the parents killed the baby and framed the snake, and THEN started saying she told them she'd feed and house the snake because she felt bad, was embarrassed, felt guilty, who knows why.

The thing is, unless you have FACTS, it's all speculation.

Speculation, fifty cents and a payphone will get you a local call. Speculation alone..... well I'm sure you can figure out its worth.

I'm just glad the snake in question is recovering. Poor thing doesn't deserve to die because it was hungry and cold.

Well at least they got that sentence....personally I think it needed to much harsher. Then again I have my doubts that the snake did it. Being the druggies that they are......well you get the picture. I also think when the size of the snake was referred to...sounds like it was unfed a lot longer than a month or so. Just a sad sad story all around and the worst of it is the innocent ones in this story are the ones that suffered (child and the snake).

As far as the grandmother....she should be held accountable as well. She knew what was going on. She knew they were druggies. She should of taken that child out of the situation and called CPS as well as called someone to invetigate animal abuse.

I have a four year old (well almost 4) and trust me, as big of an Animal Lover as I am, no pet of mine will EVER come before Her! However, people need to realize that animals, when kept as PETS should be treated like Children! They have this thing called ANIMAL INSTINCT, (Humans have this also) If your pet is being forced to STARVE, it will eat anything to survive! If you cannot afford, or are just simply to lazy or "busy" to take care of your pet, bring it to ME! :) By the way people.... My pets arent spoiled, like my daughter, they are just Well Taken Care Of!

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Originally Posted by BPelizabeth

Well at least they got that sentence....personally I think it needed to much harsher. Then again I have my doubts that the snake did it. Being the druggies that they are......well you get the picture. I also think when the size of the snake was referred to...sounds like it was unfed a lot longer than a month or so. Just a sad sad story all around and the worst of it is the innocent ones in this story are the ones that suffered (child and the snake).

As far as the grandmother....she should be held accountable as well. She knew what was going on. She knew they were druggies. She should of taken that child out of the situation and called CPS as well as called someone to invetigate animal abuse.

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Ahmen to that! People like that shoul'ndt be allowed to Have Kids, let alone Pets!
"You need a license to have a dog, You need a license to drive a car, catch a fish even..... but they will let Anyone be parents!"

This is just upseting in so many ways. Poor kiddo, poor burm. But just like shortstack said people will go in hysteria regardless. They always blame it on the animal. similar with pitbulls, rots, chows. You neglect an animal and a bad outcome is bound to happen. My thoughts and prayers for the poor child lost. :(