Python kills 2-year-old girl, couple charged with murder

A Burmese python strangled 2-year-old Shaiunna Hare on July 1. Shaiunna’s mother and live-in boyfriend are charged with third-degree murder, manslaughter and child abuse in connection with the death. The mother, Jaren Hare, turned herself in Aug. 24.

Shaiunna Hare’s mother, Jaren Ashley Hare, 19, and her live-in boyfriend Charles Jason Darnell, 32, were charged on Aug. 24 with third-degree murder, manslaughter and child abuse in connection with the death of Shaiunna. Shaiunna Hare, 2, was strangled on July 1 by an albino 8 ½-foot Burmese python while sleeping in her crib. The Orlando Sentinel reports that Darnell, who discovered the girl’s body, called 911 and said, "The baby's dead! Our stupid snake got out in the middle of the night and strangled the baby!" The incident occurred in Oxford, Fla. located 60 miles northwest of Orlando. The snake escaped from its glass container earlier, which led Darnell to cover the enclosure with a quilt and tie it down. However, state wildlife officials were quoted as saying “the snake was not properly secured and not registered as a required by state law.” After escaping from the container, the python was “later found wrapped around the child’s lifeless body,” according to the Orlando Sentinel. Following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the 5th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, Jaren Hare turned herself in to the Wildwood Police Department on Monday. Darnell was notified of the charges at the Sumter County Jail where he was already incarcerated for separate narcotics charges. Hare and Darnell are each being held on $35,000 bond in connection with the three charges. For more information about the initial incident, please read Digital Journalist Cynthia Trowbridge’s July 2 article.