pet python kills man in indiana

louise · #1 (**permalink**) 09-05-2006, 11:52 PM

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-05-2006, 11:55 PM

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 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 12:00 AM

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 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 12:02 AM

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.

amercnwmn · #5 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 12:03 AM

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 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 12:08 AM

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.

amercnwmn · #7 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 12:13 AM

Well maybe NOT a knife, but a spray bottle of alcohol or vinegar, although a knife would have been better than nothing at all

Fenderplayer108 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 12:14 AM

Yup, this is def bad for any snake owners in US.

Sorry the guy had to die though,

louise · #9 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 12:16 AM

if you click on the video in the secnd article they show a burm by the end of the video they are calling it a retic.

amercnwmn · #10 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 12:17 AM

Another thing..he told them at 5PM he was going out to treat the snake in the backyard shed...
They didnt bother to check on him for THREE HOURS?

louise · #11 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 12:30 AM

Quote:

just hope that one day people will realize that it is ignorant people that make snakes dangerous not the snakes

we can only hope

louise · #12 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 12:31 AM

as harmless and docile as chance is i never get her out alone or put her away alone. people should never lose respect for thier snakes and never ever forget they are wild animals.

RioBravoReptiles · #13 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 12:38 AM

This is a terrible thing for that person and their family.. it is a fairly bad thing for the people who like to keep large snakes..
.
Although I rarely disagree with the person who added the post about not handling 6' snakes alone, I do so now. If that were true then no man, woman or child would be safe in most of America.. since there are 6-7' constrictors living with us across much of our country..
.
A healthy, active adult (of either sex) can, I believe, safely handle a 10' snake. Even an ornery one..
.
Back to the subject at hand... although sad, if that death were to be put in the proper context it is hardly noteable.. how many people died in their bathtubs, on the highways (or in Iraq) compared to those who were killed by exotic snakes or pets of any kind? The correct answer is very, very few.
.
Gus.

amercnwmn · #14 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 02:17 AM

I think I probably should have been more specific re: size limits on handling.
For someone like myself or Louise, 6ft is about our limit on size to handle alone.

This guy actually did inform his family of his whereabouts and was just in the backyard. It still baffles me that knowing he would be handling the snake himself they let 3hrs pass without checking on him.

9-10ft of muscle would be way to big for me to handle alone.
You and most of the other guys on the site could probably handle it with no trouble.

I think another key factor here is also knowing HOW to get a snake to release once it's started seriously constricting. Some people may be more than equipped to handle a 6ft snake, but would they react properly if in a "bind" (pardon the pun)?

Overall it just boils down to knowing your own limitations, and not pushing it.

louise · #15 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooChile

I think I probably should have been more specific re: size limits on handling.
For someone like myself or Louise, 6ft is about our limit on size to handle alone.

This guy actually did inform his family of his whereabouts and was just in the backyard. It still baffles me that knowing he would be handling the snake himself they let 3hrs pass without checking on him.

9-10ft of muscle would be way to big for me to handle alone.
You and most of the other guys on the site could probably handle it with no trouble.

I think another key factor here is also knowing HOW to get a snake to release once it's started seriously constricting. Some people may be more than equipped to handle a 6ft snake, but would they react properly if in a "bind" (pardon the pun)?

Overall it just boils down to knowing your own limitations, and not pushing it.

and that is why i dont have a burm.

fizzbob7 · #16 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 04:11 AM

an 8ft burm weighing 40lbs is what i consider VERY strong....i'm 6'1" 190lbs and work out regularly and do construction for a living, so i'm not weak by any means.......not that someone with experience shouldn't be able to handle it, but the average man has 13" biceps and a snake that big could easily get them in the right position and at least seriously injure them.....the average man also is able to bench press around 140lbs.......that's not very strong at all......just like dealing with hots, you have to know your limits and work within them.....i had a 10' retic that i never dealt with unless my wife was home JUST IN CASE.....i felt more comfortable with my 6' edb....

boids kill more people than do hots here in the states because they ARE dangerous animals.......just because they don't have venom they're sometimes not respected........people forget about sheer muscle

louise · #17 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 04:13 AM

i agree totally fizzbob. people never should lose respect and become to comfortable with large boids.

fizzbob7 · #18 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louise

i agree totally fizzbob. people never should lose respect and become to comfortable with large boids.

i have that recently acquired 7' rtb and i don't even let my 5 year old or 1 year old around it without me being in control of it........i got tagged by a burmese i had raised from a baby and it was around 6' at the time....i was feeding in the living room and watching football at the same (had other snakes too) and a big play happened and my burm was swallowing his meal and before i got back to reality, he'd already tagged me across my forehead, smelling the mouse and seeing my big white head.........my fault totally and it wasn't a big deal, but if the snake were twice as large, i'd been in trouble