LAKE COUNTY NEWS SUN (Waukegan, Illinois) 04 November 06 Snake in the grass - Dumped python was Serpent Safari's Baby (Jim Newton)

Gurnee: A day after telling The News-Sun his prize snake died a year ago and been cremated, the owner of Serpent Safari told authorities the snake instead died Sunday and was disposed of by employees.

Lake County sheriff's deputies said Friday the mammoth snake parts found in a wooded area of Warren Township on Sunday were indeed the remains of Burmese python Baby, who was once listed in the "Guinness Book of World Records" as the heaviest snake in captivity at 403 pounds.

Sgt. Christopher Thompson said Lou Daddano, owner of Serpent Safari in Gurnee Mills, told investigators the python, believed to be over 27 years old, was diagnosed in October with "the snake form of heart disease."

Thompson said Daddano told officers that following surgery last Thursday, the snake died Sunday morning. Daddano also said that when employees offered to dispose of the snake, he agreed, but didn't realize they planned to cut it up, Thompson said.

In an interview with The News-Sun on Thursday, Daddano denied the snake remains belonged to Baby, and had said that Baby had died a about a year ago and been cremated.

Attempts to reach Daddano for comment Friday were unsuccessful.

Two men, Kevin Curtis of Lake Villa and Randall Frolich of Libertyville, have been charged with illegal dumping in connection with Baby's remains.

According to sheriff's reports, Curtis told officers Sunday the snake remains were left in the wooded area for coyotes in hopes of avoiding negative publicity.

The snake parts were found on the property of Knowles Road resident Jerry Lange. Lange said he and a group of friends were touring his 10-acre property Sunday around 3:30 p.m. when one of the group stumbled upon a five-foot section of the snake.

Lange said he become suspicious earlier in the day when Curtis borrowed his uncle's van and drove to the backwoods area at around noon.
Dumped python was Serpent Safari's Baby

[ Show Entire Thread ]