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August 6th, 2013
10:17 PM ET

Jeff Corwin on the python that reportedly killed two young boys

It's an unimaginable tragedy.  Two young boys killed while on a sleepover at a friend's apartment.  Authorities say they were suffocated by a 100-pound snake. The situation is heartbreaking.   Tonight, there is a criminal investigation underway.  Anderson spoke with Jeff Corwin about how this could have happened.

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  1. scottydbray

    One thing no one has mentioned, if the house had AC, the snake would have been exceptionally sluggish. It's all very tragic but we definitely are not getting the entire story here.

    As an aside, why do the commercials play perfectly but the videos run as audio only?

    August 27, 2013 at 10:21 pm |
  2. Paris Miller

    I think there is some kind of cover-up going on here ! A snake would go on a murderous rampage ? Reptiles will kill and consume their prey ! Why would the snake kill another victim after it has not eaten the one it just killed ? Reptiles don't act this way ! Why didn't the screams of the first victim awaken the other victim ? To many unanswered questions here ! Maybe the police are with holding some info that would make my questions understandable ? There is a motive in some way and it was not the snake that had a motive ! Well fed and happy snake kills two young boys too large for it to eat ? Sounds very fishy to me ! I'm not defending the snake 🙂 I personally have tended and kept one for a friend and they just don't act this way 🙁 I don't want one as a pet and I would never will buy one for a pet 🙂 They are instinctual animals only . I'm hungry, I feed ,that simple 🙁

    August 27, 2013 at 1:27 pm |
    • shannin

      there are no screams once the snake has you

      September 2, 2013 at 10:42 am |
      • HH

        Wrong. Your opinion is based on fear and hollywood sensationalism, and not on knowledge. As a snake owner for 20+ years I can assure you you have plenty of time to scream (several times, and loudly at that) once bitten (btw, the snake would bite before constricting, another sign something is up with this case, the kids had no bite marks).

        September 4, 2013 at 11:44 am |
  3. rebecca vaughn

    Ok I agree these snakes should not be pets but I also find this story quite a bit odd it really seems like this might be some sort of cover up or something.

    August 23, 2013 at 7:33 pm |
    • Paris Miller

      I agree 🙂 See my post 🙂

      August 27, 2013 at 1:29 pm |
  4. George Hilman

    The obvious answer to this problem is to remove all of the responsible parties' property, and most of their freedom for a few years, and watch the snake ownership drop, except for those who make real preparations for safely keeping of these super-sized no-brain reptiles.

    August 22, 2013 at 2:01 pm |
  5. Wally

    The question is, why do we allow people to have them? I guess Politicians cannot refuse the African Rock Python Lobby, not even in Canada.

    August 19, 2013 at 5:58 pm |
  6. Eric

    And a question for Jeff, from what you know about constrictors, wouldn't you think that the snake would have tried to eat one of the children?

    August 17, 2013 at 11:26 am |
  7. Eric

    From what I can understand, a snake will defend its self but with a snake of this sort, it would kill its prey but then eat it. What are the chances that this snake would kill the second child without eating the first child it killed. Something just don't sound right about this.

    August 17, 2013 at 11:14 am |
  8. Ariel

    Ok not familiar with snakes, but wouldn't there be marks from being squeezed? That would be a major give away...in my opinion.

    August 16, 2013 at 1:45 pm |
    • Scholar

      Contusions around the rib cage would be indicative of constrictor asphyxiation.

      August 23, 2013 at 2:39 pm |
  9. shai

    I was so mad when i heard about this ..... I think that pet shop is very much responsible. If those were my kids I would sue that pet shop right on the hit of a bat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! R.I.P those two boys!!!!!

    August 14, 2013 at 6:49 pm |
  10. sylvia

    Why are these beautiful but wild and dangerous snakes near people. Please respect nature don't bring it close to children.

    August 14, 2013 at 12:03 am |
  11. Nina Pankey

    I don't think the snake killed them. I find this very hard to believe. What did the biopsies show? Snakes only kill to eat, were there bite marks?

    August 13, 2013 at 2:00 pm |
    • Chris

      They might also kill to defend themselves, but that doesn't seem too likely in this case.

      August 14, 2013 at 5:53 am |
    • Jenn

      It would not be " biopsies " as you state - i am thinking you mean autopsy.

      1. The removal and examination of a sample of tissue from a living body for diagnostic purposes. 2. A sample so obtained. tr.v. bi·op·sied, bi·op·sy·ing, bi·op·sies.

      2. au·top·sy (ô t p s , ô t p-). n. pl. au·top·sies. 1. Examination of a cadaver to determine or confirm the cause of death. Also called necropsy, postmortem, ...

      August 14, 2013 at 6:03 am |
    • Eric

      I agree Nina. Looks like someone is trying to hide something. Snakes kill mainly for food and maybe in defense. Someone is trying to make this look like the snake has human tendencies. Humans are the only creature that will kill just to kill. IJS

      August 17, 2013 at 11:19 am |
  12. T Black

    Some are saying the snake was in the ceiling, and fell through, crushing/suffocating both boys simultaneously as they slept.

    August 13, 2013 at 10:21 am |
  13. Dave K

    These snakes should all be destroyed & outlawed.

    August 13, 2013 at 8:24 am |
    • shai

      I know right hate snakes, AND ALWAYS WILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      August 14, 2013 at 6:51 pm |
    • vacatedwisper

      That's a very biased opinion, snakes are amazing to many -don't get me wrong I understand that many people hate and fear snakes -but that's no reason to just go around killing everyone of them in sight as most snakes want nothing to do with humans. Pet snakes that are PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF make good companions that require little care compared to other options and are usually pretty tame and relaxed. More people are injured by dogs and cats than a reptile and many times it has to do with improper care, mishandling or it might be a pure accident however is the snake really to be blamed for being kept in captivity?

      Many people -including myself- have successfully managed to care for and enjoy them without sustaining injury or causing harm towards the reptile and with proper housing, food, and handling continue to do so.

      March 23, 2014 at 10:16 pm |
  14. McCullough

    Snakes are wild and react on instinct and need. Why would the python be hungry enough to kill a child if it is being cared for properly? This is strictly negligence and the owner should be charged with murder.

    August 11, 2013 at 6:19 pm |
    • benjamin hartog

      I am not a herpetologist. Thus I can't make an educated speculations regarding this issue. But I might posit that the second boy was paralyzed with fear and shock, traumatized to the point of immobility. The limbic system (fight or flight) of young children is not fully developed and might have made it impossible for the boy of a to effect an escape. The horror of watching his brother wrapped and suffocated must have been terrifying. Yet he might have made attempt to rescue his brother but was killed in the process. The snake's owner should be charged with negligent homicide. This horrid affair exceeds the bounds of tragedy. I was absurd and totally preventable.

      August 18, 2013 at 8:02 am |
  15. Pat Scott

    What I don't understand is why when one boy was being attacked the other one couldn't get away. It just seems strange to me. Is it possible for the snake to have killed both boys at the same time?

    August 10, 2013 at 6:31 pm |
    • John

      At sleepovers people are asleep.

      August 13, 2013 at 5:18 pm |
      • Sal

        You're telling me they both slept through a 100 pound snake falling through a ceiling? The second boy slept through the screams of the first boy being killed? Watch a video of a rock python feeding: their prey make lots of noise until the coils wrap them in the final deathgrip. What kind of terrible sleepover chaperon doesn't hear a 100-pound snake crash through a ceiling and kill two boys?

        August 14, 2013 at 12:05 am |
      • Robert

        John, as a keeper of these majestic animals, I can assure you that even a child as fast asleep as children can manage, would have been woken up in time to scream in terror and alert not only his brother in the same room, but the entire house. It is also odd that the other child right down the hall was unharmed. It is odder still for a large constrictor to kill without making an attempt at consumption.

        For those of us who know the capabilities and habits of these snakes, the whole thing has been rather fishy from the beginning.

        August 14, 2013 at 9:59 am |
        • steve

          For all your knowledge about rock pythons,why would you think it odd the boy down the hall went uninjured?? you think this snake , like in a horror movie was hunting humans?? I think like the article, that what is really difficult to explain is the lack of strike or bite marks. maybe they can gain control and constrict without a hold, but I have never seen it.

          August 18, 2013 at 4:08 pm |
    • Dave

      Agreed, but if the kids were asleep right next to each other, the snake may have wrapped itself around both at once, and possibly around both their necks. That might explain why there was no screaming. There has been no info that I have seen suggesting that the snake attempted to swallow either of them. That is odd, because the act of constriction is a prelude to swallowing, if not immediately, then fairly soon after.

      August 13, 2013 at 8:56 pm |
      • vacatedwisper

        Perhaps after falling through the ceiling the snake was looking for a solid purchase in which to recover, and if it managed to fall on the children it could have simply meant to balance out grasping for the closest objects available, and With all the sudden movements it was Likely confused and only concerned with its own safety.

        However it's unlikely that the snake purposely attacked not only one but two children with no bite marks found as the first thing a hunting snake does is grab ahold of its prey (using its jaws) than suffocating it with its coils. A snake would than consume it's prey before either finding a safe place to finish its digestion or continue its pursuit of prey, but to not only let go and needlessly kill another being as well as also abandon the regular tactics without bothering to attempt to digest either just doesn't make sense there's too much information missing!

        March 23, 2014 at 10:40 pm |
    • Kathryn

      That's what is so hard for me to understand as well. Can a snake kill two children at one time–and if not, wouldn't the second child be able to get away?

      August 14, 2013 at 11:33 am |
  16. clark

    Jeff Corwin who I admire. He sided stepped the question by Piers Morgan about the murder of the two young brothers. Jeff obviously believes there is more to this story. Is possible this was an" controlled" event in some shape or manner? Something is still not right about the case.

    August 9, 2013 at 9:11 am |

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