Autopsy: Girl Killed By Snake Died From Asphyxiation

The details of an autopsy report released late Thursday afternoon revealed how a 2-year-old girl was killed by a python and the owner of the snake could soon face charges. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is also now investigating the case for the sake of the two other children who lived in the house.

VIDEO REPORT:Autopsy Done; Charges PossibleEMOTIONAL INTERVIEW:Family Talks About Tragedy 911 CALL: Emotional Snake Owner Calls 911 PYTHON REMOVED: See Images | Raw Video AT THE SCENE: See Images | Raw Video

Shaianna Hare was asleep in her crib in her house near Oxford in Sumter County (see map) on Wednesday morning when the snake slithered into her room, wrapped around her and strangled her.

The snake is still alive and it will be rehabbed at a permitted facility while deputies, DCF and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) all continue their investigation into the tragic case.

“At this point, the snake is evidence in the case. However, once the case has been concluded, it will be offered as a donation to the facility that is currently caring for it,” FWC investigator Janice Jones said.

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.

python070109-blurb PYTHON REMOVED FROM HOME See Images | Raw Video “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.

That's exactly what 32-year-old Charles Jason Darnell told Sumter County deputies he saw happen to his girlfriend's daughter Wednesday morning.

"I don't know, the baby's dead. A stupid snake got out in the middle night and strangled the baby," exclaimed a crying Charles Darnell during a call to 911.

Darnell's daughter, Kirsten Darnell, played with Shaiunna all the time and is extremely upset about what happened.

"We would ask my dad to take it out of the cage. We would always play with it on the floor and Shiuanna would sit right next to it and pet it," Kirsten said.

Thursday, the Oxford community was still reeling from the child's death.

"I never thought you could make a pet out of a snake. They're always looking for their next meal," neighbor Nick Nichols said.

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. Charles Darnell turned over his python and a smaller boa constrictor to FWC.

"Even though this was a tragic accident, there may be some liabilities involved," Caruthers said.

Those liabilities could involve child endangerment and either Darnell or Shaianna's mother, 19-year-old Jaren Hare, could be charged.

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.

When investigators entered the family's home Wednesday, they did find a small amount of marijuana, but thus far no charges have been filed in the case.

"Somebody's got to pay. This poor child didn't have a chance," Nichols said.

Shaianna's mother is expecting another child soon and, by all accounts, she and Charles Darnell are suffering. The sheriff's office says there's a time and place for everything and possible charges will wait for now, but they promise a thorough investigation.

Previous Stories: July 1, 2009: Burmese Python Kills Young Girl In Sumter County