Home > Crime > Shaunia Hare, 2, Killed By Pet Python

Shaunia Hare, 2, Killed By Pet Python

July 2, 2009 at 10:18 am by Jaded

Oxford, FL–You will have to bear with my as I shudder and twitch my way through this story. You see, I have a terrible fear of snakes. The little-bitty garden variety can send chills up and down my spine, so I can’t imagine ever coming up against a “real” snake, of the 12-ft. and longer variety. Shaunia Hare, 2, was sleeping Wednesday morning when the family pet found it’s way out of a glass aquarium, slithered to the child’s crib, wrapped itself around her body and bit her little head. Charles Darnell, owner of the snake and boyfriend of Shaunia’s mother, awoke to find the snake missing. I can’t imagine his terror at what he found next. He entered the child’s room in search of the snake, and discovered the 12-foot-long Burmese python in the crib, on top of Shaunia. Charles got hold of a knife and repeatedly stabbed the snake until it relinquished it’s hold on the child.

The anguish in his voice is evident in the 911 call: “The baby’s dead!” he screamed. “Our stupid snake got out in the middle of the night and strangled the baby. She got out of the cage last night and got into the baby’s crib and strangled her to death.” Charles told authorities that he had placed the larger snake in a bag and placed the bag in the aquarium the evening before. Whether or not that aquarium was actually secured is unclear. The snake was later found underneath some furniture and was removed from the home, alive. Authorities also removed another snake, a 6-footer.

Though Charles did not have a permit for the snake, which is a second-degree misdemeanor, it is unclear as to whether or not charges will be filed. Investigators are still looking into whether there was any child neglect involved. The snakes have been placed with someone who has a permit, pending the investigation into Shaunia’s death.

Update: 8/25/09 – Charles Darnell, 32, and Jaren Hare, 19, have both been charged with manslaughter, third degree murder and child abuse in the death of Shaianna Hare. According to authorities, Jaren delivered a baby girl a couple of weeks ago – that child has been placed in the custody of relatives.

Charles Darnell and Jaren Hare

Source

Pet Python Strangled Fla. Child in Her Bed (abcnews.go.com)
Python Strangles Child in Florida (cbsnews.com)

Tags: Florida, Negligence, Suffocation

42 Comments

Comments

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nadine

First, Sympathy to the whole entire family of Shaunia so sorry so sorry for the loss.
NEXT: We all do love diff. pets and such but honestly 12-foot snake, damn, but I hope that this charles doesnot get majorly ATTACKED by us people on the site, clearly he was rather upset and did everything possible to get snake off her, i am hoping it went down like that, but they will find out what happened but the matter of fact is that they lost Shaunia and that is what matters here first and foremost, my prayers are with you all
ReDDs

true you can see the hole he put on the snake so you know he tried his best but if you gonna own this type of exotic animals you need to have a good and safe home for the animal and for yourself this is so heartbreakin bless the child
Rotten Apple

Anguish is an understatement. I fucking hate snakes. HATE them.
http://www.dreamindemon.com Morbid

It’s been awhile, but this story came about as close to me being horrified as I can get from reading something. Not just the terror that kid went through while the snake suffocated him, but for the boyfriend and mother as well. People lose children for a myriad of reasons, but I could never imagine having to go on living knowing my child was killed by a pet snake while I was in the other room.
Kdogg

Not attacking the family but exotic pets should NEVER be kept in homes with small children. You see a cute little toddler, they see something about the same size as the food they’d eat in the wild and no amount of training or keeing them in cages will stop them.
ecvmanzo

Oh this is so tragic. My heart goes out to the family. I am so very sorry for your loss.

Rest in Peace little angel..
captainhowdy

Jesus, that is so horrible. I can’t even imagine the sheer terror that poor baby went through. Her poor parents!!!
http://www.myspace.com/justdazin So Jaded

The snake had escaped the aquarium the night before…Darnell put it back into the glass case, only to find it had escaped again the next morning.

Link
Taz

I fell terrible that this happened but it was NOT!!! an accident it was shear fucking stupidity on Charles Darnell part. Read the laws, the Snake has to be LOCKED up. Was it???? nope. did he even have a permit for it ?? again nope. Also I don’t own a 12 foot snake but after a few minutes of reading I found that stabbing a snake is the last thing you want to do. It makes the situation even worse. Charles had epic fail all the way around on this. The snake was obviously hungry and went looking for dinner.

Granted Charles may be the best man in the world and a wonderful father and what ever. That still doesn’t mean diddly squat at this point. A child is dead!! its almost the same thing as leaving a loaded gun in the crib. If your going to own exotic pet then at least take the time to know what the hell you are doing.

Go take a look at the size of this so called pet.
http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GS&Date=20090702&Category=ARTICLES&ArtNo=907021045&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=600&border=0

There wasn’t even a lid on the tank or a way to lock it in the aquarium. how did he keep it from getting out??? ohh thats Right a damn blanket, yeah it will never get out then, NOT!!!!

Investigators say the aquarium taken from the child’s home was about six feet long and three feet deep and open at the top, but it wasn’t immediately clear to them whether the case had a lid.
peterpaul666

While I am truly sorry to hear about the death of the child, I must say the man is an IDIOT for:

1. Keeping a large snake around small children;
2. Not insuring the snake was secure in the enclosure;
3. not having a fully functioning baby monitor in use that night.

Unfortunately, many must suffer for their (or in one case, with) their lives due to his foolish actions.
http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/56ab9415242d131807bad3d0cdab968f?s=80 Kimchee

Horrifying …
My gf was dating a guy that had a snake of that size. I met the snake once and I said OH Hell No ..and I sat in the Car. I’ll Wait. I hate to say it ..but a Snake that size can pretty much do what it wants. My gf got a call in the middle of night from this guy ( she was dating) he was only able to ” push” redial on his phone which was her number. Because his ” snake ” got out of its aquarium (With a Lid and was secured) and was attempting the same that happened to this precious baby. He was sound asleep and that snake was wrapped around his body …and was squeezing him to death.. She had to call 911 for him. Thank God he had left his portable phone on his nightstand. He had massive deep bruises but he survived ..and He got rid of the snake. * properly.
My Prayers go out to this couple. I can not imagine what your going through.
So Sad.
(** Snakes of that size should not be in residential homes …. You cannot predict them, you can not control them, not at that size. They are not safe for Adults nor Children alike. ……….
Concerned Citizen

Looks like the permit system is really working well, huh? Idiots get these Burmese pythons when they’re small, without doing any research. Then, said idiots are surprised when the python grows to full size and they can’t take care of it. There’s supposedly a real problem with these particular snakes in the Everglades. Hence, the permit system.
Makes me curious if buyers are required to show a permit before purchasing the snake or if pet stores just sell them to whomever.
Castille

The snake is obviously large enough to kill a child. But it doesn’t look large enough to regard something 2yr old sized as food. Why on earth would it enter the toddler’s room and attack a sleeping child? I can see never having predicted that scenario and not holding anyone at fault over it. At the same time, this *is* Florida, so anything goes. Maybe he killed the girl and framed the snake. Or provoked the snake into attacking.

*maybe I should note, I don’t actually think this. It just wouldn’t shock me either.
http://www.myspace.com/mysticviewer Mysticviewer

When I had snakes(until I found out I was pregnant and gave them to a friend)
the snakes could escape the most impossible containment. My one snake’s name was Miss Houdini because she was amazing. They always headed to the floor speakers where it was extra warm. Common sense should tell someone that the snake would see that baby as food. Poor Poor baby..I cant even imagine the terror of waking up to a snake wrapped around her. God what a horrible mental image. I have watched many small animals meet there demise to a snake and its not pretty. RIP sweet one.
http://www.myspace.com/mysticviewer Mysticviewer

Concerned…back when I got mine…they just sold them and there are many people that raise them and sell them.
haunted33

This story proves 2 things 1. Not everyone should own a snake and 2. the snakes that they sell at the pet stores should not be the breeds that get too large for people to handle. My boy wanted a pet snake when he was younger and I told him flat out no Pythons or Boas. They outgrow your house and become a danger to everyone and everything in your house. He decided he would prefer rats and we had them for a long time.
http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/56ab9415242d131807bad3d0cdab968f?s=80 Kimchee

Castille…
Like Mystic said above ..they like warmth. And that little baby girl was just that as she slept. Warm.
I don’t think the snake was going to attempt to swallow her/I don’t think it could ..but he chose her for her body warmth and her secure crib space.
If you read my post above it can happen to anyone ..that has a snake of that size living within their home. And it should not happen. So tragic.
Castille

I don’t think the snake was going to attempt to swallow her/I don’t think it could ..but he chose her for her body warmth and her secure crib space.

Snuggling isn’t the same as attacking. But I’m not arguing that it didn’t happen. Only that I wouldn’t have forseen it. Of course, I’ve no insight into the snake mind, either.
silvahalo

Totally agree Tazzz, stupidity is clearly to blame beyond the obvious having a deadly exotic animal in the house with children. I’m all for people having a pet, but do so responsibly. These people were not well informed or caring for this snake properly. Didn’t have a permit and the “pet” snake was not locked and contained.

I think the snake was hungry, why then get out twice and roam about? he was hungry and he found a toddler for a snack. SICKENS me, HORRIFIES me beyond belief. What this poor child must have gone through her last moments….I just don’t want to think about it. It seems easy enough to me, kids in a safe environment or kids in a potentially deadly environment. Yeah, and I know all kinds of other pets pose a threat, like the beloved dog. Bur seriously folks, a fuckn’ Python snake and a Boa, a joke!??, a fuckn’ joke.

I’ve seen baby girls name printed as Cheyenna, but it is noted as Shaunia here. Either, way, sweetheart, I’m so sorry baby girl. My anguish and horror goes way past what I can express in words. Kisses sweet one.
Taz

Here is a photo of the little girl. Shaiunna Hare, 2
http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/photoessay_7578_images/0702091046_M_python_death8_070109.jpg
Taz

The autopsy is in and it says she died from asphyxiation, it ALSO mentions bite marks on her head and arms. Any one want to know when the last time Mr. wonderful fed his fucking land shark?????? well there not sure it was something like 2 weeks to a month ago!!!.

The snake was hungry OK, it saw her as a meal and tried to eat her. Let me also say some of you need to go look at whats inside this snakes mouth, its full of razor sharp dagger like teeth. This little girl suffered bad, in her last few moment of life, as a 12ft snake squeezed and bit her till she died. These things are killing off aligators in the swaps. There bad ass animals, when they want to be.

Ohh yeah, also forgot, Mr. wonderful was just investigated for drug use and abuse, before this happened.

Autopsy: Girl Killed By Snake Died From Asphyxiation

Shaianna Hare was asleep in her crib in her house near Oxford in Sumter County on Wednesday morning when the snake slithered into her room, wrapped around her and strangled her. With the autopsy completed, investigators can now say with little doubt that Shaianna died of asphyxiation, which is consistent with being crushed by an eight and a half foot python.

The medical examiner’s preliminary report lists asphyxiation as the cause of death and confirmed the marks on the girl’s head and arms are bite marks,” Lt. Bobby Caruthers, of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, said at a press briefing in Bushnell on Thursday.

Thursday, Eyewitness News learned there were some inconsistencies on when the python was last fed. By one account, it was two weeks and by another a month. It’ll be the second investigation launched this year. The first alleged drug use and abuse. It was just closed last month.

http://www.wftv.com/news/19924295/detail.html

Burmese Pythons diet

Like all snakes, Burmese Pythons are carnivorous. The snake uses its sharp backward-pointing teeth to seize its prey, then wraps its body around the prey at the same time contracting its muscles, killing the prey by constriction. Exceptionally large pythons may even require larger food items such as pigs or goats, and are known to have attacked alligators in Florida, where it is an invasive species.
http://www.myspace.com/llkoolk The Masked Web Avenger

Snakes freak me right the hell out. I have a cat, my cat knows if we go all man’o el cat’o, I’m going to win that fight, who the hell know what a snake thinks. Just horrible thinking about what that poor baby went through. Jesus, I know people that get rid of their cats and dogs when they have kids.
http://www.myspace.com/mysticviewer Mysticviewer

Yeah they dont just bite once to grab…they will continue to bite even as they constrict….very nasty…I just heard the 911 call on TV…with dial up I dont get the luxury of video and sound in good time. How horrible. I am going to have nightmares.
Harley_Tech

But it doesn’t look large enough to regard something 2yr old sized as food.

A snake that size could and WOULD eat a toddler with ease. You would be amazed at the size of things they consume. It does not happen in minutes, but over hours it could have easily swallowed this child.

I just can’t imagine the horror this child felt. The owner of the snake needs to serve time, lots of time.

R
http://www.dreamindemon.com Morbid

Exactly Harley. The snake experts who have been talking about this case say that the toddler is a perfect size for a snake of this size to regard as a food item. Especially if it had not been fed in a while.
solange822001

People feel sorry for the family???? Throw their ass in jail for manslaughter! What is it with stupid men and their need to have these type of animals, it makes them feel macho??? Let me guess Charles, you have a small dick??? Fuck you, how dare you put that precious child in danger like that?
solange822001

Surprise, surprise:

In addition to the sheriff’s office case, DCF has opened its own case to determine if the home provided a dangerous environment and if there was proper adult supervision for Shaianna and Darnell’s two children, who all shared the home.

It’ll be the second investigation launched this year. The first alleged drug use and abuse. It was just closed last month.
http://www.myspace.com/llkoolk The Masked Web Avenger

I wonder if they could determine if the bites were postmortem. From my extensive research (10 minuets on You-Tube)it seem like at least the first bite would be while the poor kid was alive. I’m just curious how long this poor child suffered. This is the first story to give me cold chills in a long time.
granny-g

stupid men and their need to have these type of animals, it makes them feel macho??? Let me guess Charles, you have a small dick??? Fuck you, how dare you put that precious child in danger like that?
Okay…I have to say This man was not I REPEAT not a responsible snake
owner!!!!!!!!
I am not a man, and do not care about dick size, do not care about being macho. I do however love and keep snakes (mainly boas) none are over 9feet.
I did have a burm at one time and felt that it was too dangerous so I found
it a new home.
When you have these beautiful animals you HAVE to be responsible to others as
well as the animals. My cages are locked with both chain and pad locks, only
my family and I have acess. (ADULTS only) All of my animals are kept in one room and the room has a pad lock on the door as well. My animals are fed
on a regular schedule and only frozen thawed prey.
You, must be devoted to these animals to maintain them without putting
them or the people around them in danger.
**********************************************************
I do not ask others to understand my feelings about my pets nor do I
normally go about advertising that I have them. When something like
this horrific death happens I feel the need to say something for
the millions of RESPONSIBLE people that love these animals.
The family is in my prayers….had it not been for this ignorant bastard
the child would not be dead.
PLEASE if you CANNOT keep an animal like this secure, fed and cared for
DO NOT GET IT.
http://www.myspace.com/aprilamber April

Holy fuck! This story is going to give me nightmares.
Kdogg

I too have owned snakes in the past and as with dogs or other pets that have attacked and killed children, it usually says more about the owner and their lack of knowledge or neglect than it does about the animal.
http://the-rami.livejournal.com Rami

Oh God, that’s just terrifying. Those people fail as both parents AND pet owners.
sarabei

I do not ask others to understand my feelings about my pets nor do I
normally go about advertising that I have them. When something like
this horrific death happens I feel the need to say something for
the millions of RESPONSIBLE people that love these animals.
The family is in my prayers….had it not been for this ignorant bastard
the child would not be dead.
PLEASE if you CANNOT keep an animal like this secure, fed and cared for
DO NOT GET IT.

There is nothing wrong with loving a pet and properly caring for it even if it is a snake. I don’t own snakes, but see nothing wrong with someone, as you are, keeping them who care for them properly. All exotics have the potential to be dangerous. I don’t believe in owning exotic animals such as crocs, tigers, CHIMPS, and the like. Even dogs and cats can be dangerous if the right circumstances arise. I feel so sorry for this little girl….she deserved better, and so did the snake. Fucking drug addict losers.
http://www.myspace.com/llkoolk The Masked Web Avenger

This was a freaky story but I agree with Sarabei, you can’t label all pet owners into one category. That is why I believe there must be some form of criminal investigation when this happens. The owners are taking on more responcibilty by owning this kind of pet, and if they fail to live up to that respocibility it is much like leaving a loaded gun out. Even if you didn’t mean to leave the gun out, if on of the kids got injured or worse, there would definitely be charges, accident or not.
http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums/ Dakota Valkyrie

Sumter County deputies today say they arrested Charles Jason Darnell on a series of narcotics charges.
[...]

Darnell and his girlfirend, Jaren A. Hare, the toddler’s mother, have been waiting to see if they are charged in connection with the child’s death and the care of the snake.

But apparently the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Squad was actively investigating Darnell on drug sales.
[...]

Article
http://www.dreamindemon.com Morbid

A drug dealer with a snake. Let me guess, he has a piece of shit Camaro in the front yard as well.
Meggers

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. — A Sumter County couple was booked into jail Monday afternoon for manslaughter, third-degree murder and child abuse in the death of 2-year-old Shiuanna Hare.

The decision was made to charge the child’s mother, 19-year-old Jaren Hare, along with her boyfriend, 32-year-old Charles Darnell, because the snake was not properly secured.

The mother reportedly turned herself in Monday afternoon, and Darnell was already in jail on an unrelated drug charge. Both Hare and Darnell are being held on $35,000 bond.
[IMG]http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f366/MeGanSoNe/20536719_640X360.jpg[/IMG]
http://www.wftv.com/news/20536270/detail.html
Wonder

This did take long enough, nearly 2 month. How in the hell does any one cope with this shit? What a fricken nightmare!

Thanks for the update Meggers, are these more serious charges (second-degree misdemeanor) then stated in the orginal story by Jaded – ?

Felonies ?

Though Charles did not have a permit for the snake, which is a second-degree misdemeanor, it is unclear as to whether or not charges will be filed. Investigators are still looking into whether there was any child neglect involved. The snakes have been placed with someone who has a permit, pending the investigation into Shaunia’s death.

Is the fricken snake still living… OMFG …. Murder If that had been a Dog it would of been put down … I just don’t get it!
Wonder

meant to include this link so it stands out, if someone can add it to the story that would be even better *wink

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f366/MeGanSoNe/20536719_640X360.jpg
http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums/ Dakota Valkyrie

According to the Department of Children and Families, Hare delivered a baby girl a couple of weeks ago. Since Hare’s arrest, she has lost custody of her infant. DCF placed the baby with a relative.

Source
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001795689947 Taby

Pythons are not pets!!
Burmese Python
http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums/ Dakota Valkyrie

Pet python likely starving when it killed Sumter County child, documents show

The pet python that strangled a 2-year-old Sumter County girl 18 months ago hadn’t been fed in about a month and had escaped its tank 10 times since its last meal — a road-kill squirrel, according to newly released documents.

Gypsy, the 8-foot-6-inch albino Burmese python, was most likely hungry when it escaped its terrarium and attacked Shaianna Hare in a crib, according to investigative documents examined by the Orlando Sentinel.

A review of reports in the July 1, 2009, tragedy show that the child’s mother and the mother’s boyfriend had kept the snake in violation of wildlife rules and apparently could not afford to feed it.
[...]

Full article: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-killer-python-hungry-20110101,0,1884575.story