Original Post Date: 7-3-09
Two year old Shaiunna Hare of Oxford, Florida died on June 30, 2009 after being strangled
by a pet Burmese python that escaped from its aquarium and attacked her in her crib. Jaren Ashley Hare and her daughter shared the
home with Hare's boyfriend, Charles "Jason" Darnell. The snake was owned by Mr. Darnell. The 911 caller is not identified on the call,
but is later determined to be Mr. Darnell.
Update: Hare, and Darnell were convicted in 2011 of third degree murder, manslaughter and child neglect. Each were sentenced to 12 years in prison. The snake repeatedly escaped its 200-gallon glass aquarium, which had only a safety-pinned quilt as a lid. A medical examiner testified during the trial that the albino snake was underweight and trying to eat the girl. The snake hadn't been fed for a month when the girl died, and was severely underweight at only 13 pounds. The snake should have weighed nearly 150 pounds.
Analysis:
The court evidence indicates neglect on the part of Charles Darnell by not properly securing the python in it's cage. The reversals, and evidence combined appear to indicate a far more nefarious plan was underway. Darnell intentionally created conditions that would make the snake attack, and kill the child.
Brackets [ ] indicate where the reversal occurs. Click on the mp3 to hear the reversal.
911 Call
Our stupid [snake got out in the middle of the night], and strangled the baby.
I'm going to live with what I did.
...our snake. We have a Burmese pyth[on, and
she's about] twelve foot long. She got out of the cage last night, and got into the baby's crib and strangled her to death.
(He's is not congruent. Forward he says the snake got out. The reversal seems to indicate otherwise.)
