An eight-foot Burmese python strangled a two-year-old baby in her parents’ home in Oxford, Florida last Wednesday.

The python allegedly managed to escape from its fish tank prison, and slithered towards Shaunia Hare in her crib. Shaunia was already dead when paramedics arrived at the scene.

Charles Jason Darnell, the owner of the snake and the boyfriend of Shaunia’s mother, said that he discovered that his snake was missing, and proceeded to look for it. He went straight to the baby’s room where he found it with the girl. The baby had bite marks on her head. Darnell stabbed the snake until he could pry it away from the baby’s body.

Darnell did not have a permit for the snake, but was not yet charged for the offense. Investigators are also looking into possibilities of counts of child neglect issues.