DAILY PRESS (Hampton Roads, Virginia) 29 March 08 No sightings in missing snake case (Nicolas Zimmerman)

Gloucester: One day after a man called a local tip line to report his deadly pit viper missing, Gloucester police are no closer to knowing the man's identity — or whether his story is bona fide.

"We're still working the case," said Maj. Tim Doss, Gloucester Sheriff's Department's chief deputy. "We don't have anything to update. Nothing at all."

The anonymous tipster called the county's Crime Line around 9:30 a.m. Thursday to report a box containing the snake missing from his car parked at the Super Wal-Mart on Route 17. Gloucester police immediately issued an alert, notified local hospitals and enlisted the help of neighboring law-enforcement and rescue agencies.

So far, no one has reported seeing the snake, a fer-de-lance, and police have been unable to identify the caller, Doss said. Because Crime Line callers are promised anonymity, the phone line is not traceable.

The fer-de-lance, also known as a common lancehead, is native to South and Central America, where it is blamed for more deaths each year than any other snake species. State law doesn't prohibit keeping venomous snakes, but Gloucester residents are required to obtain a permit through the county in order to keep poisonous reptiles.

Just one Gloucester resident holds such a permit, said Carl Shipley, the county animal control officer.

"We do have one person that does have a permit, but at this point I don't actually believe he has any snakes," he said. "We have been in touch with that individual, and he's been ruled out."

Gloucester police are asking anyone with information pertaining to the case to call Gloucester's anonymous Crime Line at 804-693-COPS (1-804-693-2677) or the sheriff's office at 804-693-3890.
No sightings in missing snake case

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