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LAKE COUNTY NEWS SUN (Waukegan, Illinois) 03 November 06 Zoo says snake parts don't belong to record python (Jim Newton)

Photo: Record sized Burmese Python 'Baby' is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest snake ever held in captivity, with its owner Lou Daddono at Serpent Safari in Gurnee. (Sun-Times)

The discovery of severed segments of a large snake on a wooded property in Warren Township remained a mystery Thursday after the owner of Serpent Safari dismissed claims that the remains were Baby, a record Burmese python once displayed at the zoo in Gurnee Mills.

Lake County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call Sunday evening from a resident of the 35500 block of Knowles Road regarding the discovery of a large "snake tail" in the wooded area.

According to sheriff's reports, the snake segment was five feet long and nine inches in diameter.

After several interviews, two men were eventually charged with illegal dumping in regard to the incident.

One of the men, Kevin Curtis of Lake Villa, told officers he worked at Serpent Safari and the remains belonged to Baby. According to sheriff's reports, he said the snake had died during surgery and that the remains were left for coyotes in hopes of avoiding negative publicity.

Serpent Safari Owner Lou Daddano confirmed Curtis was a temporary employee, but said Thursday that Baby actually died about a year ago. He said Baby was cremated and that he still has the cremation papers.

Daddano also said that no large snakes were missing from his zoo.

Baby was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the heaviest snake in captivity at 403 pounds. It also was 27 feet long when the subject of a 2003 story in The News-Sun.

Daddano said the five-foot segment mentioned in the sheriff's report indicates that the remains probably belonged to a snake that would be too large to be legally kept by a non-licensed person.

Also arrested and charged with illegal dumping was Randall Frolich of Libertyville, according to reports.

Other sections of the dead snake were also located in the wooded area and disposed of properly after Lake County Animal Control officials told sheriff's deputies the remains could be harmful to animals that might eat them.

Sgt. Christopher Thompson of the sheriff's office said the incident is still under investigation.
Zoo says snake parts don't belong to record python

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