Police Book Parents Whose Python Attacked Child
Each Faces Felony Child Abuse Charges
POSTED: 2:56 pm PST February 10,
2009
UPDATED: 11:10 pm PST February 10,
2009
LAS VEGAS -- The parents of a 3-year-old boy who was attacked by a python have been booked on felony child abuse charges, Metro police said.On Jan. 20, Melissa Melendrez, 25, went upstairs to find her pet snake wrapped around the boy, Metro police said.
Parents Charged In Connection With Python AttackAfter stabbing it several times with a butcher knife, the snake released the boy. He was treated and released from a Valley hospital.The snake survived the attack, but was later put down at an animal shelter.Five other snakes were found in the home on the day of the incident. They were turned over to Clark County Animal Control.Melissa and her husband, 26-year-old Anthony Melendrez, were booked into the Clark County Detention Center today on one count each of felony child abuse resulting in substantial bodily harm and felony child neglect.During the investigation, agents found that the python wrapped itself around the 3-year-old while biting and constricting, preventing the child from breathing.This is the normal method used by these snakes in the wild to kill their prey.
Parents Charged In Connection With Python AttackAfter stabbing it several times with a butcher knife, the snake released the boy. He was treated and released from a Valley hospital.The snake survived the attack, but was later put down at an animal shelter.Five other snakes were found in the home on the day of the incident. They were turned over to Clark County Animal Control.Melissa and her husband, 26-year-old Anthony Melendrez, were booked into the Clark County Detention Center today on one count each of felony child abuse resulting in substantial bodily harm and felony child neglect.During the investigation, agents found that the python wrapped itself around the 3-year-old while biting and constricting, preventing the child from breathing.This is the normal method used by these snakes in the wild to kill their prey.Copyright 2009 by KVVU.com. All rights reserved.
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