Two brothers, age five and seven, (pictured above) have been tragically
strangled to death in their sleep by a massive 16-foot python that
escaped from a pet store below the apartment where the children were
staying.
Connor and Noah Barth were sleeping soundly when the
100-pound African Rock Python fell from the ceiling and attacked them.
The boys were spending the night with Jean-Claude Savoie, who lives
above the Reptile Ocean pet store that he owns in the tiny New Brunswick
city of Campbellton in Canada.
Reptile
Ocean is home to a veritable menagerie of exotic animals, including
crocodiles, tarantulas, tortoises and numerous snakes.
Mr Savoie
described to the Global News how he walked into the living room and
found the two boys dead about 6.30am on Monday. He found the snake
coiled in a hole nearby. He said the creeping serpent slithered upstairs
into his apartment through the ventilation ducts and creeped into the
ceiling.
It then fell through the ceiling and dropped onto the small
boys from above. Mr Savoie said he believes the snake coiled around
both children and crushed them as they slept together on the floor.
The
National Post reports that the snake was a 14 to 16-foot African rock
python that even its owner said was 'vicious' and was rarely handled.
Tim
Thomas, a former Reptile Ocean employee, told the newspaper that when
he learned of the tragedy, he immediately called Mr Savoie's best
friend, Mandy Trecartin, who told him it was her boys who were killed.
Mr
Savoie operated Reptile Ocean as both a pet shop and as a zoo. He kept
numerous snakes and lizards and small crocodiles to sell, but he hosted
tour groups.
'He always had kids going in there to visit like school kids and groups,' a neighbour said
The horrifying deaths of the two children shocked residents of the small city of 7,400 in northern New Brunswick.
'It’s very nerve-wracking. If one got out, how many else got out,' Ms Fournier said.
Police
said an autopsy on Tuesday will confirm the exact cause of death,
though officials believe the boys were crushed to death by the snake.
Mr Savoie said he captured the snake and turned it over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who are examining the creature.
An
RCMP spokeswoman said the major crimes unit is investigating the case
and will determine whether any criminal charges should be filed against
the owner.
Culled from Daily Mail UK
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