I'd say it's very possible that person got a snake at a big box pet store... we all know of them...without doing much research (if any) and some person there said, "you need a log hide, a heat mat, some pine shavings and a water bowl. Feed it a mouse (whatever size) a few times a month", and that was it.

I've been in pet stores and heard this myself. It happens all the time. It's sad, but it's reality. Happens with pretty much any "pet" you can imagine.