Police in eastern Canada have launched a criminal investigation after a python apparently escaped from a pet shop and killed two children by asphyxiating them in their sleep.
The two boys - named locally as Noah Barthe, five, and his brother Connor, seven - were at a sleepover at their best friend's flat in the town of Campbellton when it is believed they were attacked by the snake. It is understood the animal had escaped from the Reptile Ocean pet shop, which specialises in exotic pets and is run by family friend Jean-Claude Savoie, located on the ground floor of the building.
The boys were sleeping in the living room of the residence on Pleasant Street when they were reportedly attacked by the snake early on Monday morning. Police were called to the scene at 6.30am local time.
Corporal Alain Tremblay from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) told Canadian news station CBC News that officers were in the first stage of a criminal investigation.
He said: "I can tell you it's a criminal investigation right now to determine if any criminal act is responsible for the death of the two boys."
Cpl Tremblay confirmed that the snake involved is an African rock python, as long as 4.5 metres and weighing about 45kg. The animals are non-venomous and would usually kill by constricting victims.
Police have suggested the python entered the upstairs apartment via the two-storey building's ventilation system.
The RCMP said in a statement: "The preliminary investigation has led police to believe that a large exotic snake had escaped its enclosure at the store.
"(It) got into the ventilation system, then into the upstairs apartment. It's believed the two boys were strangled by the snake."
The boys' mother, Mandy Trecartin, lives close to the Reptile Ocean store. She is a good friend of the shop owner and regularly let her sons stay over there.
A former shop employee is reported to have called Ms Trecartin as soon as he heard about the tragedy to find out what happened.
Tim Thomas told Canada's National Post: "She told me straight up, it was her two children that died; I didn't know what to say, I was in shock."
Mr Savoie, who described the dead brothers as "like an extended family", told Global News that he found a "horrific scene" when he checked on the boys at about 6am. "I thought they were sleeping and I've seen the hole in the ceiling, (and) everything has fallen. I turn the lights on and I've seen this horrific scene," Mr Savoie said.
He added: "The snake was gone but I found the snake ... it went through the ceiling and was sleeping in the living room.
"I have so many mixed emotions right now. I can't believe this is real."
The python, which he had owned for 10 years, has been recaptured.
The local community expressed shock at what had happened. One neighbour said: "We could not believe that something like this could happen, but it has happened." (source)
That's too much, it is a wild animal, it is in its nature.
Anyway I can't even imagine how terrible the mother must feel, may the kids RIP.
Well there's a ton of other pythons around the world. They're not going extinct. You'd want the python put down if it killed your children but I guess.
Well there's a ton of other pythons around the world. They're not going extinct. You'd want the python put down if it killed your children but I guess.
If a python killed my children I wouldn't want it to be put down
If a python killed my children I wouldn't want it to be put down
There is literally no way you can say this until you have children. If you had children and they were killed by an animal you'd want it dead. You can try denying it but it doesn't make you seem like a better person or anything.
Ugh, the only reason people even have animals like pythons as pets is because it makes them feel like 'special snowflakes!'.
It should obviously be killed.
That had to of been one smart python, escaping enclosure and going through air vents specifically to drop down in an upstairs apartment.
It's unlikely that the python plotted specifically to escape from its enclosure and climb up the air vent to intentionally asphyxiate the children. I'm not in the law enforcement profession but I'd hazard a guess to say we probably aren't looking at a case of a homicidal snake here.
Absolutely tragic. RIP.
There is literally no way you can say this until you have children. If you had children and they were killed by an animal you'd want it dead. You can try denying it but it doesn't make you seem like a better person or anything.