pet python kills man in indiana

[louise]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...h_x.htm?csp=34


Pet python kills man in Indiana
Posted 9/5/2006 1:27 PM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Subscribe to stories like this



LANESVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A 14-foot pet python crushed its owner to death, authorities said Tuesday after finding the snake loose in a southern Indiana shed with the man's body.
Patrick Von Allmen, 23, was found Monday evening in the shed near Lanesville, about 15 miles west of Louisville

A medical examiner determined that the death was consistent with asphyxiation caused by compression of the neck and chest, said Conservation Officer Mark Farmer.

"When you're dealing with a wild animal species, you take on a certain amount of risk," he said.

Von Allmen had told family members he was going to treat the snake for a medical condition, farmer said. He was alone in the shed with the python for about three hours before his body was found.

Relatives said Von Allmen had 10 to 12 years of experience handling reptiles, according to authorities. The family got the snake as a pet five months ago, Farmer said.

Indiana law does not restrict ownership of snakes, and the python was returned to the family.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[louise]

http://www.wave3.com/global/story.asp?s=5368163

Autopsy Confirms Owner Crushed To Death By Pet Python

Sep 5, 2006 03:02 PM PDT

Neighbors Say Python Victim Loved Snakes









(LANESVILLE, Ind.) -- A 23-year-old Southern Indiana man is dead after being attacked by his pet snake. It happened in Lanesville, Indiana Monday evening. An autopsy report shows Patrick Von Allmen's 14-foot python crushed him to death. WAVE 3's Anne Marshall has the story.

It was a frightening end for a man who lived with little fear.

"It's so disturbing," says Patrick Von Alleman's neighbor of 18 years, Nancy Reinert. "When I first moved here, he was just a child, and he used to come over here and ask questions. He was always trying to learn, always curious."

After Patrick's early teenage years, Nancy says she noticed a growing fondness of snakes. "I'd see him out in the yard with a snake around his neck, showing the little kids in the neighborhood."

Monday night one of Patrick's 15 snakes, a 14-foot Reticulated Python, wrapped itself around his shoulders and neck, crushing him to death.

It was around 5 o'clock Monday evening when Patrick told his family he was going to go treat the snake for a condition known as "mouth rot." Three hours later, his family found him dead in their back shed, with the snake moving about unconfined.

"Wild animals don't necessarily make good pets," says Indiana Conservation Officer Mark Farmer.

With no witnesses, Farmer says they'll never know what prompted the snake to attack its owner. Patrick had gotten the snake as a pet about five months ago.

Says Farmer: "This is a tragic example of how a person experienced in handling animals lost his life due to a snake overpowering him."

For now, Reinert says her thoughts are with the young man who still had so much ahead and the family he leaves behind. "They're a good Christian family. They're just great people, that's all there is to it."

The python's weight is estimated at around 100 pounds. Patrick's body had no bite marks on it. It is legal to have a python in Indiana because it is not a venomous snake.

The snake was captured and given back to the family. They haven't decided whether they will keep it

[crush]

You know after awhile what can you say? You kind of lose things to say about any idiot that will try to handle a large snake without another person. Just chulk up one more to bring down the GOOD herp keepers. I just hope that one day people will realize that it is ignorant people that make snakes dangerous not the snakes. I hope they know enough that not all of us are like that and not punish all for one.

[Slithers]

RIP Patrick

Let this be a warning and lesson to all who handle giant snakes alone. Never ever handle a large or giant snake without another person present.

This is gonna be bad.

[VoodooChile]

OHHh lord...not good for Indiana snake owners.

#1 reason why NOT to handle a snake over 6ft alone. I know many people do it, but it is really NOT a good idea.

Ive had a 6ft snake around my arm and had her get tighter and tighter because she was trying to slither off of my arm, and still hang on..I was sticky from the heat and it felt like she was going to squeeze my arm off! Luckily it was just my arm, and I was able to unwind her. But when I treated my larger snakes, I always felt it wise to have someone around. Plus its just easier to have someone hold the snake, and another person do the treatment.

I know Ravnos (from herpworld) has told me of his large retic striking and hitting an artery. Luckily his wife was there, and knew exactly what to do..Although with his zoo, I think she is used to bloodshed on his part LOL

For those of you with large snakes, please make sure you stay safe

Very sad this man died.

[louise]

that is the first thing i said..if he was a responsible snake owner he wouldn't have been with it alone and he would have had a knife on hand. also in one article it says a burm and another it says retic.