2013 New Brunswick python attack

Killing of two boys by an African rock python 2013 New Brunswick python attack 2013 08 05 Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada Deaths caused by an animal (African rock python) 2 1 Jury trial 0 Criminal negligence Acquittal On August 5, 2013, an African rock python killed two boys in Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada. The boys, brothers Noah and Connor Barthe, aged 4 and 6 respectively, were sleeping in an apartment above their friend's father's pet store. The python – which had been in a specially made enclosure in the apartment – had escaped, crawled through an air duct, and fallen through a ceiling tile above where the boys were sleeping. Following the incident, the python was euthanized. The python's owner was charged with criminal negligence for not preventing the deaths but was found not guilty in a jury trial in November 2016. Prior incidents An African rock python|thumb|alt=Head of a large snake The African rock python is one of the five largest snake species in the world (along with the green anaconda, reticulated python, Burmese python and amethystine python). At least two other examples of humans killed by an African rock python have been reported. A ten-year-old boy was reportedly killed and swallowed in South Africa in 2002, and a three-year-old boy was reportedly strangled by an African rock python in Centralia, Illinois, U.S., in 1999.Morales S. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/python-killing-of-2-new-brunswick-boys-baffles-experts-1.1302648 Python Killing of 2 New Brunswick Boys Baffles Experts CBC News August 6, 2013 August 7, 2013 August 7, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130807033903/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/08/05/f-snake-python-sales-ownership-risks.html live In another Canadian incident, a closely related species, a Burmese python, reportedly strangled a 28-year-old Brampton man in 1992.McDiarmid, J., "New Brunswick boys killed by python spent fun-filled last day https://web.archive.org/web/20160331055013/http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/08/06/campbellton_nb_snake_tragedy_raises_exotic_pet_concern.html 2016-03-31 ", Toronto Star, August 6, 2013. Event The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the python escaped from its enclosure in the apartment via the ventilation system and entered the living room where the boys were sleeping. The python was approximately 4.3 m long and weighed 45 kg 1."Python's strangling of 2 boys in Canada investigated ", CBS News, August 6, 2013. The boys, Noah Barthe, 4, and Connor Barthe, 6, were brothers who were visiting their friend, whose father owned a pet shop below the apartment where they were staying.Than, K., "Strangulation of Sleeping Boys Puts Spotlight on Pythons", National Geographic Daily News, August 6, 2013. The owner of the python – Jean-Claude Savoie – was interviewed by the Canadian network Global TV. According to the interview, the python was not in the pet store downstairs, but rather in a specially-built cage in the apartment upstairs. The python escaped from its enclosure through a hole in the ceiling, where a ventilation fan had been removed for maintenance."Python enclosure in N.B. boys' deaths had 'flaw' ", CBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20110306051837/http://www.cbc.ca/news/ 2011-03-06 , August 14, 2013. This gave the snake direct access to the air ducts in the ceiling, which then collapsed under the snake's weight above the living room.Prentiss M. Paperny A. M. Wong J. Logan N. http://globalnews.ca/news/764130/python-that-killed-two-n-b-boys-was-in-enclosure-near-where-they-slept-friend-says/ Python that killed two N.B. boys was in enclosure near where they slept, friend says Global News August 6, 2013 August 7, 2013 August 9, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130809044618/http://globalnews.ca/news/764130/python-that-killed-two-n-b-boys-was-in-enclosure-near-where-they-slept-friend-says/ live The air duct containing the snake crashed through the ceiling tiles and onto the boys, who were sleeping on a floor mattress located about 8 ft flip from the snake's enclosure. A pathologist determined the cause of death to be the result of "asphyxiation by neck strangulation", after the snake coiled itself around the brothers. Both boys also suffered multiple wounds from repeated bites.White Alan November 3, 2016 Python deaths trial hears details of snake's attack on sleeping boys https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/python-deaths-trial-thursdayhead-1.3833529 CBC.ca Controversy Several experts expressed skepticism about the incident and said that such behaviour by this type of snake would be extremely unusual,"Escaped python kills two young children in Canada https://archive.today/20130809150208/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/18377799/escaped-python-kills-two-young-children-in-canada/ 2013-08-09 ", Agence France-Presse, August 6, 2013.Mahoney, J., "'It's Very, Very Puzzling': Snake Expert Mystified by New Brunswick Python Attack https://web.archive.org/web/20240620175544/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/its-very-very-puzzling-snake-expert-mystified-by-new-brunswick-python-attack/article13610814/ 2024-06-20 ", The Globe and Mail, August 6, 2013. although there have been some previous reports of deadly attacks on humans. According to the reports, the snake did not consume the bodies after strangling the brothers. This – together with the fact that more than one child was killed in a single incident and that the other occupants of the apartment were reportedly not awakened by the disturbance – prompted questions about the circumstances regarding the alleged attack.Wood, D., Snake attack leaves many questions https://web.archive.org/web/20130825014710/http://www.therecord.com/news-story/3925976-snake-attack-leaves-many-questions/ 2013-08-25 , The Waterloo Region Record, August 6, 2013.Withnall, A., Python escapes from Canadian pet store and kills two young brothers as they sleep https://archive.today/20130806235517/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/python-attack-snake-escapes-from-canadian-pet-store-and-kills-two-boys-as-they-sleep-8747571.html 2013-08-06 , The Independent, August 6, 2013. Lee Parker, facilities manager at Reptilia, Canada's largest indoor reptile zoo, stated that these snakes do not "go on killing sprees. It doesn't make sense to me."http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08/06/python-kills-boys_n_3711719.html Python Killing Of 2 New Brunswick Boys Baffles Experts 6 August 2013 The Huffington Post 7 August 2013 8 August 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130808152510/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08/06/python-kills-boys_n_3711719.html live Though these objections were made, the possibility that the incident may be a homicide rather than an animal attack was ruled out by the RCMP.Tremblay Alain Brothers killed by snake died from asphyxiation, Campbellton, N.B. http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/nb/news-nouvelles/releases-communiques/13-08-07-153212-eng.htm Royal Canadian Mounted Police https://web.archive.org/web/20131017162052/http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/nb/news-nouvelles/releases-communiques/13-08-07-153212-eng.htm October 17, 2013 August 7, 2013 Court records revealed that police who first arrived on the scene found the pet shop owner pacing outside of the store with blood on his hands and wearing shorts."Python pet shop owner had blood on hands ", CBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20110306051837/http://www.cbc.ca/news/ 2011-03-06 , August 22, 2013. The store owner told arriving police that the snake was still unaccounted for. Kentucky Reptile Zoo director Jim Harrison stated that it was theoretically possible for the large python to have constricted around both boys at the same time, a theory supported by Neil Ford, a professor at the University of Texas. Harrison also said that since the boys handled a variety of farm animals (horses, llamas, goats, cats and dogs) earlier that day, they may have smelled like food to the snake. Although the pet shop was registered as a reptile zoo, police said that the province does not allow pythons over 3 metres and the African rock python is a prohibited species and that the owner probably did not have the proper permits and authorization to keep the python under his care."Python Escapes Cage, Kills Brothers Aged 4 and 6 in Canada https://web.archive.org/web/20240620175639/https://www.latinpost.com/articles/1385/20130808/python-escapes-cage-kills-brothers-aged-4-6-canada.htm 2024-06-20 ", Latin Post, August 8, 2013. Aftermath The python was euthanized by authorities. Additionally, a total of 23 reptiles were seized and four American alligators were euthanized following the incident.Zoo staff seize, euthanize animals after python kills 2 boys https://toronto.citynews.ca/2013/08/09/zoo-staff-seize-euthanize-animals-after-python-kills-2-boys/ 29 February 2024 toronto.citynews.ca 9 August 2013 29 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240229030411/https://toronto.citynews.ca/2013/08/09/zoo-staff-seize-euthanize-animals-after-python-kills-2-boys/ live A coroner's preliminary autopsy report released on August 7 said that the boys died of asphyxiation.Gillies, R., "Boys Killed by Python Died from Asphyxiation https://web.archive.org/web/20130809165134/http://news.msn.com/world/boys-killed-by-python-died-from-asphyxiation 2013-08-09 ", MSN News, August 8, 2013.Kwong, M., "Boys killed by python: Case baffles snake experts https://web.archive.org/web/20130811101514/http://news.msn.com/science-technology/boys-killed-by-python-case-baffles-snake-experts 2013-08-11 ", MSN News, August 8, 2013.McLaughlin, P., "Autopsy report released in N.B. snake deaths https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185841/http://www.chch.com/autopsy-report-release-in-n-b-snake-deaths/ 2016-03-04 ", CHCH News, August 7, 2013. The two boys could be seen cleaning a large glass enclosure originally belonging to a green anaconda in pictures their mother posted on Facebook.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mother-of-2-boys-killed-by-python-posted-facebook-photos-of-boys-in-snake-enclosure/ Mother of 2 boys killed by python posted Facebook photos of boys in snake enclosure CBS News August 7, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130808020228/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57597460/mother-of-2-boys-killed-by-python-posted-facebook-photos-of-boys-in-snake-enclosure/ August 8, 2013 live Associated Press Member of the Legislative Assembly Donald Arseneault expressed frustration in April 2014 that the province would not review New Brunswick's Fish and Wildlife Act until the RCMP investigation was completed. Minister of Natural Resources Paul Robichaud defended the delay, saying that the completed RCMP investigation would help inform a review of the current law.MLA wants change in exotic pet laws 8 months after python attack http://globalnews.ca/news/1261136/mla-wants-to-see-change-in-exotic-pet-laws-soon/ Global News April 9, 2014 Laura Brown Shaw Media, Inc. May 13, 2014 May 14, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140514070032/http://globalnews.ca/news/1261136/mla-wants-to-see-change-in-exotic-pet-laws-soon/ live Although the incident was treated as an accident, the RCMP arrested Savoie in Montreal on February 5, 2015.Snake owner arrested 18 months after python killed two young brothers in New Brunswick https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/arrest-made-in-connection-with-fatal-python-case-in-new-brunswick-that-killed-two-young-brothers February 6, 2015 Tristin Hopper National Post February 6, 2015 June 20, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240620175545/https://nationalpost.com/category/news/ live On March 31, 2015, Savoie was charged with criminal negligence for not preventing the deaths.http://news.sky.com/story/1456531/man-charged-over-brothers-killed-by-python Man Charged Over Brothers Killed By Python Sky News April 1, 2015 July 1, 2015 April 5, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150405041253/http://news.sky.com/story/1456531/man-charged-over-brothers-killed-by-python liveMan charged in python asphyxiation death of boys https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/03/31/man-charged-in-python-asphyxiation-death-of-boys.html March 31, 2015 August 23, 2017 August 6, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170806101133/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/03/31/man-charged-in-python-asphyxiation-death-of-boys.html live However, he was found not guilty in a jury trial in November 2016.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/python-death-jurors-instructions-1.3842113 Python owner not guilty in deaths of 2 boys CBC News November 9, 2016 2016-11-11 See also Animal attacks Exotic pets List of unusual deaths in the 21st century References 30em Python attack Category:Animal attacks in North America Category:Campbellton, New Brunswick Category:Reptiles as pets New Brunswick python attack Category:Deaths due to snake attacks Category:Python (genus) Category:Accidental deaths in New Brunswick Category:Exotic pets New Brunswick python attack Category:Accidental child deaths Category:2013 deaths Category:Violent child deaths