In Oxford (Indiana) in a house full of snakes, found the body of 36-year-old Laura Hurst around the neck which turned into eight-foot (2.5 m) reticulated Python.
County Sheriff Benton don Munson, who lives next door to Laura, found her body on Wednesday evening, October 29. He was able to remove the snake from the neck of the woman, but attempts to resuscitate Laura Hurst was not successful.
According to Kim Riley, representative of police of Indiana, the exact cause of death will be determined after an autopsy, scheduled for Friday, November 1.
«It appears she was strangled by a snake,’ said Riley. But we can’t be certain of this before the autopsy».
Riley added that in the house where she lived Hearst, had 140 snakes.
Laura’s father and several of her friends refused to comment to journalists.
According to Marcel Katz, a lawyer from Lafayette who worked on the case of Laura’s divorce, serpents were very important for Hurst, as they were included in a list of property for them was negotiated.
«She had a real passion for snakes,» said Katz.
Indiana has specific laws regarding the possession of poisonous snakes and reptiles, but Laura Hurst was non-venomous snakes.
According to the Indianapolis zoo, reticulated Python is one of the largest snakes in the world.
The largest specimens in the wild can grow, at least up to 7 meters in length. Reticulated Python is often attacked by domestic animals: goats, pigs, dogs and poultry. A well-known case of eating pythons pigs weighing more than 60 kg.
Indiana police are still investigating the tragedy in Oxford.
