Man stole snake, left child at pet expo

WEST ALLIS, Wis. —A man could be facing charges after police say he stole a snake at a pet expo and left his son behind

Exhibitors at State Fair Park said they were just starting to pack up Saturday night at the Great Lakes Pet Expo when the incident happened.

Cindy Steinle runs the reptile exhibit and said a volunteer was showing a corn snake to a boy when the boy's father walked off with the snake.

"In the 20 years I've been doing education like this, we've never had someone steal an animal and leave a child behind," Steinle said. "He (the volunteer) had given the snake to the child to pet and to hold, and the child handed the snake off to his father and his father left, leaving his child behind."

Organizers said the snake is only worth about $40 so they were baffled by the theft.

State Fair Park Police said they were able to track down the man and the snake.

Police said when they found the man, he had a pillowcase on him that officers could see was squirming. Capt. Jim Bruno said that's how officers knew they had their man.

"The pillowcase was moving, we pretty much knew we were zeroing in on what we were there for," Bruno said.

Officials said Child Services did get involved and the boy is back with his mother.

"We didn't want the child in exchange for the snake so thankfully the child is back home and the snake is with us," Steinle said


http://www.wisn.com/news/south-east-...z/-/index.html

Over a $40 snake? Wow.

Thats happened really close to me, I found the story quite hilarious lol. What an idiot.

Not everyone can be a winner at life, sheesh.

Someone needs to take his Dad Card and his Man Card.

It's a shame they couldn't have kept the kid, too.

"We didn't want the child in exchange for the snake so thankfully the child is back home and the snake is with us," Steinle said

HA.

Wow and all for a corn snake? Well he couldn't have been too bright to leave his son behind in the first place. Humans amaze me.

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Originally Posted by Rob

Humans amaze me.

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And people think I'm weird because I prefer the company of snakes... :rolleye2:

Wow, I hope he gets charged with abandonment, neglect, theft, fleeing the scene, and any other charges they can come up with. He obviously needs a while to think about leaving his child.

Dad of the year. A+ parenting right there.

Seriously though. What the heck?


Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Here's a link to video of the original local news story, including an interview with Cindy. :)

http://thereptilereport.com/snake-st...d-left-behind/

Wow. That is ridiculous.

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

And people think I'm weird because I prefer the company of snakes... :rolleye2:

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I have been thinking this a lot lately. I just prefer animals.


Either way, at least the guy has is priorities straight. Am I right? ;)

Ummm... Agreed ^.^ hahaha

I think maybe the child SHOULDN'T have been returned to the dad. If he's able to leave his child behind in favor of a snake, then I think this dude's priorities are seriously questionable. Isn't there a mom/grandparents/other more responsible family members to leave the kid with for now?

I mean, I love snakes too, but if I had a child they would definitely come first.

Says, the boy is back with the mother

Wow. That "dad" doesn't deserve to have the child or snake.

For a $40 corn snake? If you're gunna do it, go big or go home at least lol. Thats so stupid. That'll be a good story to tell everyone in jail.
"I murdered 2 people"
"I robbed 5 banks"
"I... I uh... stole a baby corn snake and abandoned my son..."

Lmao

Anybody know how old the child was? Was this a very young kid, or one that's old enough to have this as a memory?

He was three years old. THREE. :mad:

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Originally Posted by JLC

He was three years old. THREE. :mad:

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Horrible, with that many people around I wouldn't take my eyes of my son for a second.

Wow. I couldn't even imagine. I freak out when I can't see my daughter at the park.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

Wow. I couldn't even imagine. I freak out when I can't see my daughter at the park.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

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I know right!

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Originally Posted by Rob

I know right!

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Ya. Seriously.

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Hmmm... I think *I'd* rather have another corn snake than a kid...

aaaand this is why it's good that I use birth control.

That IS horrible though, if you already have a kid I mean.

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Originally Posted by Coleslaw007

Hmmm... I think *I'd* rather have another corn snake than a kid...

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I will admit, less poop clean up with a corn snake.

Ewwwww rob. Thanks for the nasty mental images!