Headline of the Week Weak

snake_toddler.jpg

"Brentwood mom finds snake sleeping in crib with baby"

WTF??? CLICK HERE to read the article accompanying this headline.

Brentwood mom finds snake sleeping in crib with baby

A mother in Brentwood checked on her sleeping daughter to find a real-life urban legend come true: There was a snake in her baby's crib, she said.

Cari Abatemarco, 32, of upstate Troy, was visiting family in Brentwood late last week when she awoke after 1 a.m. Thursday to the sound of her 7-month-old daughter's cries and responded as any mother would. She said she found a live snake coiled around baby Isabella's leg.

"Once I lifted her up and the snake fell off of her, she stopped crying. But then I was the one crying all night," Abatemarco said.

Abatemarco's uncle Charlie Vecchiarelli eventually pried the hissing snake from Isabella's crib with a back-scratcher and placed it in a bucket, according to Joyce Abatemarco, the baby's grandmother. Animal control officers said they picked it up later Thursday and brought it to the Town of Islip animal shelter in Bay Shore.

Animal control workers identified the snake as a California king snake and said it was a little more than a foot long. Joyce Abatemarco, who lives in the home where the incident took place, said it was closer to 4 feet.

A spokeswoman for Islip Town confirmed that an animal control officer took the snake. The reptile is not venomous but is a constrictor and is sometimes kept as a pet. Officials said they could not be sure where it came from.

The snake is not indigenous to Long Island and will probably be adopted by an organization that cares for exotic animals, said Joanne Daly, supervisor of the Islip Animal Shelter.

Cari Abatemarco, who is legislative director for state Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) in his Albany office, said her parents had recently bought the baby's mattress at a store in Bay Shore, and family members said the packaging was not secure. She said she believes the snake may have been in the mattress when they bought it. The family declined to name the store.

The snake's appearance in the home, however, could have had something to do with the weekend heat wave, said Gary Rogers, a captain with the Suffolk SPCA, who said his agency referred the case to the animal shelter.

"You open a window, it's warm out, they are probably looking for shade, too," he said.

Joyce Abatemarco speculated the snake may have been an escaped pet. "Not us," she added, "We're more puppy-doggy kind of people."

For now, Daly said, the snake is "thriving" in captivity.

    Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 10:00 am / Email this  »

    96 comments to “Headline of the Week Weak”



    1. 1

      lol wat kinda snake ?? =0)

    2. jethr says – reply to this


      2

      I'm pretty sure I rented a XXX video starring Denise Richarsd the same Denise Richards EX- Charlie Sheen. Let me know what you think!

    3. jacki says – reply to this


      3

      first bitches

    4. sk says – reply to this


      4

      Reminds of Hercules as a child! lol

    5. Loopy says – reply to this


      5

      first?

    6. phuck says – reply to this


      6

      OH MY GOD!

    7. 1 says – reply to this


      7

      1

    8. leona says – reply to this


      8

      first!

    9. biggi says – reply to this


      9

      people routinely think snakes and spiders they see are 3×4 times larger than they are. i'm going w/ animal control on the size. california king's are not harmful, and do make easy pets (for those who like snakes).

    10. Danst says – reply to this


      10

      Shit!

    11. Jessi says – reply to this


      11

      woahhh scary!!!

    12. 1st says – reply to this


      12

      1



    13. 13

      oh man!

    14. eli says – reply to this


      14

      that is some crazy ass shit! Damn and the kid is touching it to

    15. renee says – reply to this


      15

      Holy crap!!

    16. bethn says – reply to this


      16

      AGH!!!!!

    17. WTF says – reply to this


      17

      THAT IS FUCKED UP, THANK GOD THE BABY IS OK!

    18. tashi says – reply to this


      18

      1st

    19. LI says – reply to this


      19

      Welcome to the slums of Long Island!

    20. Lisa says – reply to this


      20

      scary stuff lol
      hate snakes

    21. Q says – reply to this


      21

      Shut up!



    22. 22

      But *I* can't get pregnant — riiiiiight.



    23. 23

      Aww…poor little snake. That's not scary at all. It was just a baby kingsnake. It couldn't hurt a human if it tried.



    24. 24

      OMG that is soo scary! I love you Perez!



    25. 25

      I love how in the article the guy is quoted as saying he pried the hissing snake from her crib. Yeah…the thing was a damn baby kingsnake…gimme a break you DRAMA QUEEN!!



    26. 26

      Test



    27. 27

      Why does my pic not show up??? I am so sad ):

    28. snake says – reply to this


      28

      The baby was in no danger, even if the parents had been right about the length, which undoubtably they were not. People over react way too much!

    29. Lisa says – reply to this


      29

      It's been all over the news here on Long Island. Frankly, I think it was a stunt.

    30. Cassi says – reply to this


      30

      Yeah, right…the snake was chillin' in the mattress… :)

    31. loulo says – reply to this


      31

      So the litigious crazy bitch is going to sue the mattress company????? I don't like snakes or know anything about them, but I am pretty sure they would have noticed a snake when they made the crib.

    32. LI CH says – reply to this


      32

      I think this could of happened to anyone any where. Thankfully the baby is okay, and it wrapped around her leg and nothing more serious.

      LONG ISLAND REP!!



    33. 33

      Ewww :(

      I would freak if that happened to my kids!

    34. melys says – reply to this


      34

      i live in central islip, which is a town away from brentwood and according to the newspaper out here she bought it from TOYS R US in Bayshore and it was a California King Snake…so i dont know how the hell it got all the way to NY…they said that they are planning to sue toys r us…shit, i would too!



    35. 35

      weeeeiiiird

    36. Leila says – reply to this


      36

      Scary!! so glad the mom heard the baby, it would have been devastating if she did'nt

    37. Bee says – reply to this


      37

      Ugh, I hate snakes, even those that arent "harmful"! And I feel for the poor mother that had to go through this. That is most mothers's nightmare, but Im very happy to read along that the baby is ok.



    38. 38

      I would have FREAKED if I found a snake in my baby's crib! Thank God the baby is okay.



    39. 39

      When the mother said something about it being the mattress company's fault, what she REALLY meant to say is that she is going to sue them for every penny! God I HATE sue happy people!

    40. Leila says – reply to this


      40

      Re: loulo – Its all about money I also agree any body now days will blame anyone to get some money!!!the snake was 1 ft and the grand mom is trying to say 4 ft? a lie right there

    41. sarah says – reply to this


      41

      THAT WOULD SCARE THE SHIT OUT OF ME!



    42. 42

      OMFG! How scary would that be?



    43. 43

      I dont think the parents overreacted at all. I ould be freaking out too if i found a snake in my baby's crib, no matter how big it was or what kind. The snake is a constrictor and was wrapped around the babys leg, whos to say it wouldnt do any harm?

    44. aww says – reply to this


      44

      I love snakes, but if I woke up to have one(thats not my pet) wrapped around my childs leg, i would freak.

    45. Windy says – reply to this


      45

      I can't believe some on here "overreacting" waking up at 1 a.m. findng a damn snake wrapped around your baby's leg would sendme to the hospital with a stroke. Too some of YOU it might be nothing but to me as a mother it would seem as big as an anaconda and just as dangerous and nothing no one could say would change that thought. To her this was her baby's life and apparently it hurt the baby enough for it to cry. Geez! Just a little compassion and understanding please?



    46. 46

      omg if that was me i would have DIED that's one of my biggest fears

    47. Peniz says – reply to this


      47

      Charlie Vecchiarelli eventually pried the hissing snake from Isabella's crib
      -yet the snake simply fell off the childs foot?

      said it was closer to 4 feet.
      -yes, CLEARLY animal control is lieing.. this woman is an idiot.

      snake may have been in the mattress when they bought it.
      -or not.

    48. jonat says – reply to this


      48

      yeah but this is what you all are covering up for these people for letting you all steal my money! your covering up the calculated molestation of all my kids! what you think they made them for! seriously?

    49. Jenne says – reply to this


      49

      Sueing toys r us. what a laugh! How can a snake survive in a mattress for as long as it was in there? And were there holes for the snake to escape through?? Some people look for every excuse to sue others…more than likely the snake came through an open window or door….not the mattress.

    50. e2 says – reply to this


      50

      Some of you people on here are truly nuts, how is the mother "OVERREACTING" to finding a g.d. snake in her baby's crib?? If I was her, they probably would have found me the next morning still laying knocked out on the floor. Venomous or not, 4 feet or 4 inches, it is a F'ING SNAKE IN THE BABY'S CRIB!



    51. 51

      Thats insane how did the snake even get in?

    52. MATTh says – reply to this


      52

      It wuz only a little small King Snake! WTF Perez, thats hardly news! King snakes are hardly anything 2 be afraid of! I'd be more worried about my son getting germs from the snake than it bitting him!

    53. no co says – reply to this


      53

      Luckily the parents lawyered-up to sue Sealy Mattress.
      I don't believe it for one second,that the snake lived in the mattress and only came out to wrap around the baby's leg.
      Fingers in chili, anyone?

    54. s says – reply to this


      54

      Re: jethr – can u post that video please?

    55. katsu says – reply to this


      55

      holy shit. I would be freaked to find a snake in my kid's bed. I would be crying all night too thinking of the worse that could've happened.



    56. 56

      HOLY FUCK. HAHA, I HATE SNAKES.



    57. 57

      I heard about this on the news last night. I'm just glad that the snake wasn't venomous and the baby's ok.

    58. dmd says – reply to this


      58

      OH my god!!!!!!!! a king snake!!!!!!! thats terrible they are so dangerous…fucking idiots. if it was a rattler then there is something to worry about.

    59. a says – reply to this


      59

      I saw the news last night and the snake that was found was NOT a big snake by any means. It was a small black and white snake.

    60. Jenni says – reply to this


      60

      I have a CA King and she's 4 1/2 feet long. They aren't venomous, but they're constrictors, so that could have easily killed a baby. Not that I really think it would, unless it was starving, and thought the baby was food. But most def going to believe the lady on the size, King snakes aren't 1 foot, maybe a baby corn snake.

    61. me says – reply to this


      61

      Re: WONDER TWIN – No where in the article does it say its a baby king snake. It says California king. You have this image of a little snake when you don't really know what it looked like. It looked 4 feet long to that baby, I'm sure!

    62. India says – reply to this


      62

      Re: PRINCE55 – Excuse me. Sue happy??? I don't blame the mother for wanting to sue someone; poisonous or not. I hate fucking snakes! This one wasn't poisonous, but it was a constrictor and probably could have killed the baby if it had wrapped around the baby's neck instead of it's leg. I would have killed the damn thing regardless of the size, and who has the time to sit there and determine if it's poisonous–what are you gonna do, get out the encyclopedia? Yes, I don't blame the mother for suing, but she should make sure that she is suing the right party! Don't you think whomever she sues is going to sue the company that delivered and/or makes the mattresses? Of course they will!

    63. marij says – reply to this


      63

      Oh, PLUEEEEZE!

      I am glad the little snake is OK and well cared for by now.

      Stupid drama queens… When the mother picked up the baby the snake just fell off…some constrictor I say. A one foot baby snake, most likely the thickness of a little finger, give me q break!!!!!!!

      OK I admit, initially I would freak too. But as soon as I had the baby and saw that the snake just fell off, I would get my shit together and act like an adult not some hysterical teenager.

    64. Indy says – reply to this


      64

      Indiana Jones says: "God I hate snakes! I'd still be stomping on that motherfucker!"

    65. Mel says – reply to this


      65

      This took place in NEW YORK or LA??????

    66. Hyde says – reply to this


      66

      If the snake in the picture turned around, that kid is lunch. How stupid.

    67. luna says – reply to this


      67

      This happened in Brentwood on Long Island, NY…not Brentwood. CA

    68. frog_ says – reply to this


      68

      People are so stupid! I love snakes and own 3 ball pythons. I am very conscientious and make sure they can't escape. I don't know a lot about king snakes, but I do know they're harmless. What makes me angry is it's people like that who embelish the story and make it seem a whole lot scarier than it really was! There's a government group trying to ban the sale and even ownership of snakes.
      When someone shoots their mouth off like that, it doesn't help our cause for those of us keepers who are responsible.
      I'm sure is was very alarming to find a snake in your baby's crib, but COME ON! Don't make shit out to be worse than it really was! Anyone with half an ounce of brains can tell that a California king snake of that size couldn't harm a small baby if it even tried! And I don't believe it was 4 feet long. I would believe the animal control people…

      Lame!

    69. ohmy says – reply to this


      69

      Ay Caramba! She is damned lucky it was a California King(not the mattress!)
      They are mild mannered snakes that have never - to my knowledge- ever harmed any human. Still scary! I'm sure I would be crying the rest of the night too if I found a snake around my baby!!!

      Although I like what sk says: Reminds of Hercules as a child!
      Maybe that is more valuable than a lawsuit!

    70. SheL says – reply to this


      70

      WOW! If i were that mother.. i would die of a heart attack right there. Doesnt matter if its harmful or not. seeing a snake in bed with your baby?! Everyone of you would freak the fuck out. The picture above looks waaaaaaaaay bigger than one foot though. im confused on that

    71. Megs says – reply to this


      71

      Okay, how the hell was this women supposed to rationalize "Oh, it's okay, it's just a California King snake. They're harmless" at 1 a.m. when she found it in the crib with her child? She's in NY, they aren't native, so how is she supposed to have any idea what kind of snake it is? I don't mind snakes, or having them as pets. But if I found a snake in my sons crib at night I wouldnt care what kind of snake it is, because it will be a dead snake.

    72. kayyy says – reply to this


      72

      i live the town over from brentwood… this is soooo scaryy if i ever woke up to see a snake i would DIE.

    73. Baile says – reply to this


      73

      You people are ridiclulous. If you found a snake in the crib with your baby, I am sure you would be extremely upset. Whether the snake was posinous or not, its still dangerous. And I'm sure that you would be scared to death. I'm sure that the mother had no knowledge of snakes so her only instinct was to grab her child away from it. She didn't know if it was posinous or not, and I'm sure that she didn't really care if it was at that moment. What did you want her to do? Leave her baby with the snake and get a dictionary and go inspect the snake? I mean COME ON. Morons

    74. A.M says – reply to this


      74

      DAMNNNN

    75. Baile says – reply to this


      75

      Re: SheL – The picture has nothing to do with the story.Perez just used it because it had a snake in it.

    76. Victo says – reply to this


      76

      Does anyone else think that it is funny that the snake is a California King and the it was supposedly in the matress? California king sized matress????? California King snake????



    77. 77

      OMG, That would be sooo scary. I think i'd faint.

    78. cryst says – reply to this


      78

      STFU! :O

    79. Shaan says – reply to this


      79

      OH MY GOODNESS!!!

    80. jenn says – reply to this


      80

      Oh my gosh-that's horrible! Screw all you people who are saying it's not a big deal. You guys obviously aren't parents. Being a mother, this has got to be at the top of the list of most horrifying things to happen to your child. Thank god the child's okay and thank god the snake was not venomous. The article did say it was a constricting snake so it could still have suffocated the baby and killed it. Makes me wonder about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and if snakes may be a contributing factor.

    81. Marcu says – reply to this


      81

      woot! My hometown made it on perez! people are crazy over here!

    82. SEXY says – reply to this


      82

      WTF!

    83. Alex says – reply to this


      83

      ahh I live in Bay Shore! That's so freaky



    84. 84

      First

    85. Balug says – reply to this


      85

      oh shiznit! Brentwood is my hometown! crazzzy



    86. 86

      Is that the snake shown in the pic? Cus if it is, that looks a lot longer than 4feet to me.

    87. Moniq says – reply to this


      87

      Yay!!! My town :)

      B-Wood, Long Island Stand UP!!!!!!!

    88. jenbu says – reply to this


      88

      is that snake a pedophile?

    89. oly says – reply to this


      89

      u idiot (indianprincess), read d damn article be4 commenting.
      PS: perez, get a life!!

    90. yia says – reply to this


      90

      uugg thats soo fucking scaryyyy.

    91. lafat says – reply to this


      91

      not venomous, only a foot long - thus a baby and yet you show this story with a giant constrictor snake being petted by a baby — why? aren't you a sensationally enough yellow pseudo journalist already? you suck

    92. holly says – reply to this


      92

      omg that is to bad

    93. Amand says – reply to this


      93

      Only crap!!!

    94. wise says – reply to this


      94

      Re: Jenni – you have a friggin CA tt's 4 feet ? man u're one tough person , arent u worried it might hurt u ?

    95. ERIN says – reply to this


      95

      omgah!!! i dont know how long ago this was posted, but that is scary.
      Obivioulsy the snake was trying to do something harmful, it wasnt just coiled around her leg because it wanted to cuddle!
      But I agree the lady shouldnt be trying to sue everyone, its the same thing when any other pest finds it way into your house.

    96. sophi says – reply to this


      96

      snake talk or sex talk?