The dangers of owning an exotic pet became all too real for one mother today as her boyfriend’s pet snake kills her baby girl. Sumter County Sheriff’s authorities confirm that a 8 1/2 foot-long Burmese python snake killed the mother’s 2-year-old girl after the snake escaped from its container and attacked the baby in her room.
Two-year-old baby Shaiunna Hare was pronounced dead on Wednesday morning after Sumter County Sherriff’s Office received an emergency call that a snake killed a baby.
The owner of the Burmese python snake is Charles Jason Darnell. Darnell, 32, who lives in the home with the baby’s mother, Jaren Hare, 19, reportedly told investigators that he put the python in a bag before putting it into a glass cage Tuesday night.
According to Lt. Bobby Caruthers, Darnell woke up Wednesday morning to find the snake missing.
“Wednesday morning he wakes up and discovers the snake missing from its container,” said Caruthers. “He went straight to the infants room and he described it as seeing the snake on the baby. He also described a bite mark on her forehead. He started stabbing the snake and removed the child from the room.”
Despite this tragedy, the fact that an exotic snake killed a baby, means a criminal investigation is underway for owning and keeping such a dangerous pet in the home with the baby girl. “We’re going to be interviewing (Darnell) and the mother further at the Sheriff’s Office,” Caruthers says. “They were very upset at the scene and that’s all we got out of them.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has also initiated an investigation into how the snake killed baby Shaiunna. Reports indicate that Darnell did not have a permit for the python snake which is required by state law as a Burmese Python is classified as a Reptile of Concern. It should be noted that, although classified as a Reptile of Concern, there have been no other reports in Florida of snakes killing other babies, kids or adults.