E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSA Virginia man found dead in his home, surrounded by 24 caged snakes, died of complications from a snakebite, the state's medical examiner's office concluded.
Chesterfield resident Jack Redmond, 70, was found dead with bite marks that appeared to be from a Chinese palm viper on a finger, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Friday.
While poisonous, that snake is not typically deadly, but experts said Redmond's age and health -- he was battling prostate cancer and taking medications for that -- might have played a role.
"It's not simply a black-and-white issue, whether you're going to live or you're going to die if you're bit by the snake," J.D. Kleopfer, a state game and fisheries officials, told the Times-Dispatch. "A person's age and their health — those are other factors that kind of come into play, along with the location of the bite."
Redmond probably could have survived had he been treated soon after he was bitten, added Dr. Ruddy Rose, director of the Virginia Poison Center. It was not clear how much time passed before Redmond's wife called for help and first responders reached the home.
Redmond had considered himself an amateur naturalist but was violating an ordinance banning the possession of venomous snakes and wild and exotic animals.
The 24 snakes at his home were all venomous, and most were rattlesnakes, copperheads or vipers. The state game agency hopes to find zoos and nature centers to take the snakes.
Snake-handling preacher dies from rattlesnake bite in West Virginia
Snakebite deaths are very rare in the U.S., said Rose, who could recall only two deaths in the past four decades in Virginia "that were really proven to be the result of a snakebite."
"It's unusual to die from a snakebite in this part of the world," he added. "There are deaths that occur in Asia and South America and Africa, but it's very unusual in North America, if you get medical treatment."
More content from NBCNews.com:
- Snowstorm hits North Dakota, Minnesota, dropping up to 14 inches in some areas
- Lanai to become eco-lab that runs on solar, billionaire Ellison promises
- Americans ignore 'great risks,' travel to Pakistan to protest US drone strikes
- Up for grabs: the $300 million estate of reclusive heiress Huguette Clark
- Unarmed man shot dead by police in NYC
- Gray wolves probably real target of poisoned meat that killed dog
- Video: Could Border Patrol agent's death have been friendly fire?
Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
Live by the snake....die by the snake.
Rest in Peace, Mr Redmond
Old Jack has gone to meet his Snaker. Live by the snake, die by the snake.
This man apparently outlived his usefullness to society. Thank you snake.
Got what he deserved... and what others who would confine such natural Beings in cages!
Think I feel sorry for these people who get bit by poisonous Pet snakes? Hah, guess again. Play with fire-----
Note to self: Stick to playing with trouser snake
I was thinking about getting a bunch of pirahnas and put them in my pool , and then go swimming in there. What could possibly go wrong ?
Who edits this stuff?
was found dead with bite marks that appeared to be from a Chinese palm viper on a finger,
You're right. It makes it sound like the Chinese Palm Viper was somehow on a finger when it bit him.
Elimination of people this stupid is only a blessing for humanity.His wife is lucky she didn't get a free ride with him to Never Never land.
At 70 I am sure his reaction timing
iswas not so good anymore.IF YOU LIVE BY THE FANG, YOU DIE BY THE... okay, that doesn't sound quite right but you know what I mean.
Hey snakes - how about not biting the hand that feeds you!!!?
The man was an utter dumbass. Snakes are not pets.
Moral to a certain story: You knew I was a snake when you met me!
A seventy year-old cancer patient and naturalist with a thing for venomous snakes. A palm viper that missed and bit a finger. Poison Control Doctor name Ruddy Rose.
There's the makings of a great joke here. Gotta have a few Scotches and think about it.
Live by the snake, die by the snake?! Only a matter of time, really.....
Could have been suicide.
Because a 9mm to the noggin is so passe' ?!
OBAMA 2012
You can't fix stupid ! Maybe you can, looks like the snake found a way !
If snakes are outlawed, only outlaws will have snakes !
If you dance with snakes your eventually gonna get bit!
oh well....live like a @!$%#ing retard, die like a @!$%#ing retard
Really sucks when you're killed by your pet.
Wow! I am surprised he made it to age 70! What some people will do to prove something.