These Dangerous Pets Attacked Their Owners

Added: 2026-05-04

[00:00:00]A boa constrictor wrapping itself around your neck is not the best situation.

[00:00:05]That's exactly what happened to Elliot Sinceman when his pet boa constrictor slowly began choking the life out of him. Elliot, a snake rescuer, had handled several pythons and boa constrictors. But one particularly aggressive reptile was a killer. Elliot did not even have the strength to struggle as the 18 ft boa constrictor tightened its grip on his neck, cutting off the oxygen to his brain. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, what they saw horrified them. This is the story of how snake rescuer Elliot Sensman died doing what he did best. But first, hit that notification and subscribe to this channel. This is Fierce.

[00:00:53]Elliot Senseman from Pennsylvania loved snakes and did everything he could to rescue and rehabilitate them. It was ironic that he died from one of the most awful circumstances. Elliot knew how to handle snakes and not just the little ones. He would rescue pythons and boa constrictors, too. On that ill- fated day of July 20th, 2022, Elliot had begun his day as usual, feeding his snakes. He had no idea what was about to happen. He was extra careful of one snake in particular, a boa constrictor almost 18 ft in length. It was always more aggressive than the others.

[00:01:34]Unfortunately, one slip around an angry reptile is enough to make it your last moment on Earth. Boa constrictors and pythons are large snakes and technically they are both constrictors. However, there is a vast difference between the two. Even though in most cases most large snakes are constrictors, an attack by either one can be fatal. Given that a python can exert a force of 14 PSI, which is 14 lb of pressure per square in, enough to kill a human. But a boa constrictor can exert pressures up to 25 pounds per square inch. Now Elliot had devoted his life to finding injured and abused snakes. His interest in snakes began when he was 10 years old, and since then he had begun handling them.

[00:02:26]For the last 6 years, Elliot had taken up rescuing snakes. A creature that appeared slimy and creepy to others was something beautiful to him. He was passionate about snakes and was obsessed with finding rehabilitated snakes a new home. Boa constrictors are smaller than pythons, known to be the world's longest snakes. They can also be deadlier than boas. And if you're looking at attacks, there has been only one fatal boa attack in the last few decades in the US.

[00:02:57]Pythons, on the other hand, have been known to cause more fatalities in the US and are considered a nuisance. Burmese pythons are regarded as invasive in the Everglades of Florida. The problem is so huge that the US government even organized a python challenge in 2022, leading to hundreds of huge reptiles being captured or killed, some of which turned out to be longer than 15 ft.

[00:03:23]Whether big or large, it didn't matter to Elliot. He had handled 15-footers several times. On the day of the unfortunate attack, Elliot went about his usual routine. Along with the boa constrictor that killed him, Sensman had two other snakes he had taken in as rescues. The boa constrictor, which strangled him, was abused and malnourished. It did not settle in well with Elliot, and it always appeared aggressive. Elliot was always very careful with the 18 ft boa constrictor, but a family member later recalled how it wasn't behaving normally the day it attacked Elliot. Elliot's mother, Heather, later told investigators he was experienced and would never handle that snake alone. He was only checking the enclosure and all appropriate measures were taken. That's right. Elliot was only about to check its enclosure when the deadly reptile attacked. At that very moment, Elliot might not have suspected anything. Yes, the snake acted weird, but Elliot attributed it to the fact that it was yet to get over its own ordeal and needed time. It had come from a home where it was grossly abused and mistreated. What he didn't bargain for is how the creature could not trust humans again and was waiting to strike.

[00:04:41]The routine of cleaning and feeding his snakes might have led Elliot to dismiss the boa constrictor's odd behavior.

[00:04:48]After all, rescue snakes don't exactly behave normally. If they attacked, his family members were trained to respond in the correct manner because the house was outfitted with the necessary equipment. Elliot never really had a chance. As soon as he opened the boa's cage, the snake lunged at him, coiling around his body and neck in seconds. It then began tightening its grip. Even as Elliot contemplated his last moments on Earth, even as his life flashed before his eyes, his grandmother walked in. The scene being played out before her was horrific. There laid Elliot collapsed in agony, his large boa constrictor wrapped around his neck. She screamed for help, but quickly regained her composure and dialed 911.

[00:05:37]When officers from the Upper Makungi Township Police Department got the distress call, they immediately rushed to the Sensman residence. A team arrived only to find Elliot now unconscious and showing heart attack symptoms. In their report, patrol officers wrote he was unresponsive and lying on the floor of the home with the mid portion of a large snake wrapped around the male's neck.

[00:06:02]The officers were unsure what to do. The reptile looked more than 15 ft.

[00:06:07]Moreover, it was impossible to shoot the reptile in the head, which would risk injury to Elliot. Finally, they shot the snake several times in the lower body.

[00:06:17]It was enough to make the reptile loosen its grip, and that was enough to allow the officers to pull it off Elliot.

[00:06:24]Elliot was rushed to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, where doctors tried to save him. He spent 4 days in critical care but did not respond to treatment. On July 24th, 4 days after the incident, Elliot died. His doctors attributed his death to severe anoxic brain injury due to esphyxiation by constriction. Elliot Sensman's death by his pet boa constrictor raised many questions. Investigations were carried out soon after during which his mother explained how careful he had always been around snakes. My son was unique and kind and should still be with his family and friends. She said the problem in the US and many parts of the world is the pet trait. Snakes are often regarded as exotic pets. However, many people can't manage these reptiles once they grow larger. Boa constrictors and pythons especially end up being unwanted or abused. Elliot was always at hand to receive such snakes and help them recover or find a forever home.

[00:07:32]Explaining his rescue mission for snakes, Elliot's mother, Heather, said, "Too many people get these snakes and can't handle or take care of them. They shouldn't be bred to be kept as pets." A lot of times, the snakes were neglected or mistreated and needed medical care.

[00:07:49]He would provide all of that. He wanted them to be in a habitat as close to their natural environments as possible since they couldn't be put in the wild.

[00:08:03]Amanda Ruth Black, the 25-year-old wife of a Navy officer, established herself in the Virginia Beach community as an animal lover. She worked at Pet Paradise, a local animal shop, and over the years had accumulated enough knowledge about animals that people would call her an expert. Despite working amongst puppies, kittens, rabbits, or parrots, she chose more special pets, snakes. Her love and knowledge of snakes knew no bounds. She was absolutely fascinated every time she encountered them. So much so that she convinced her husband to collect a few nonvenenomous snakes as pets. And among the many different kinds that existed, she fell in love with constricting snakes. Now, you probably think she had it coming. And you would probably be right if you didn't know Amanda at all.

[00:08:56]In truth, she wasn't an amateur snake lover. Amanda knew how to handle the slithering reptiles like the back of her hand. She could anticipate any change of behavior and knew exactly what to do so she could remain unharmed. Her home became a true snake sanctuary and a testament to her devotion to her pets.

[00:09:16]Her collection included several exotic snakes like a 10-ft Burmese python, a 12-oot dwarf reticulated python, a 13-year-old Mexican king snake, and two green tree pythons. Knowing how difficult it would be to handle these large snakes, Amanda often times asked for her husband's help, who fortunately shared her fascination for reptiles. But on that Tuesday, Amanda was home alone, and her pet needed its medication, so she decided she couldn't wait for her partner to come home. She did it herself, and she paid a terrible price for it. Tuesday morning, while preparing to go to her shift at Pet Paradise, Amanda kept pondering something. Should I give Diablo his medication now or wait for my husband to help me? Despite knowing it would be kind of hard to do it herself and that she usually needed someone to make sure the snake was steady, she decided she was most likely overthinking the entire situation. After all, it wasn't the first time she would be handling Diablo alone. So, right before leaving for work, she prepared the snake's medication. Slowly, she approached Diablo's enclosure, trying to present herself as calmly as possible.

[00:10:32]"Come on, Amanda. It's like when you played with him when he was smaller," she thought to herself. The big difference now was that he wasn't that small anymore. He was almost 10 ft long and he weighed over 20 lb. Sensing her presence, Diablo moved a bit around his cage, raising his head slightly. Amanda kept talking to her pet, trying to maintain a steady hand. She kneled before the cage and placed her hand on the lock. As soon as the click of the cage opening was heard, Diablo became more alert. There were only a few times the snake was allowed outside the cage.

[00:11:09]When Amanda cleaned it, when she gave him his medicine, and when she fed him, the 25-year-old woman got up and stretched her arms toward the python.

[00:11:18]She gently lifted Diablo's midsection and carefully got it out of the enclosure. During all of this, the syringe that contained Diablo's medication was resting on the dresser next to the cage. Trying to hold the heavy python with one hand, she leaned backwards for the syringe, her head turned away from the snake. Diablo slowly began to wrap its tail around one of Amanda's legs, a behavior he had done since he was a snake lit, so she didn't think much of it. But something disturbed Diablo while his owner grabbed the syringe. It wasn't the sharp object.

[00:11:52]Not at all. And what he probably thought was happening right at that moment was Amanda feeding him. The smell of Amanda's breakfast was still lingering around her. A detail the young woman hadn't thought of before entering the python's room. The moment Amanda faced the snake after procuring the syringe from the dresser, she knew something had changed. As she tried to steady the python in order to give him the medication, Diablo started to move frantically, wrapping himself tighter on her leg. The snake had one thing in mind now, food. The 10-ft long python, in a confused state, slithered its large body around Amanda's waist. Mere seconds later, amidst Amanda's failed attempts to calm him down and get him off of her, Diablo started to constrict. Reticulated pythons use constriction as a method to subdue their prey, wrapping their powerful bodies around the victim and tightening their coils with each breath the prey takes. The young woman recognized what was happening and tried her best to uncoil her pet in order to set herself free while keeping a steady breath. She didn't even have enough time to regret her decision to try to give him the medicine. It all happened so fast. Panic flared in the woman's chest.

[00:13:09]She started to hit the python's body, hoping it would hurt him enough to let her go. Everything she stood for came crashing right in front of her. It pained her that she was forced to use violence in order to maybe save herself.

[00:13:23]Her actions only succeeded in angering the python, whose force became unbearable. At that point, Amanda was in so much pain that she thought her bones were breaking from the python's grip.

[00:13:35]Finally, Diablo reached his owner's neck. Amanda's tears and cries for help filled the room. With every passing second, the snake's body wrapped tighter and tighter around Amanda's small neck, leaving her gasping for air. Her breathing became more difficult, and her energy was diminishing rapidly. It was absolutely agonizing. In just a few minutes, the snake's job was done. With a final effort, Amanda clawed at the python, wrapped tightly around her neck, but it was all in vain. The air whooshed out of her lungs as Diablo finally loosened his grip. She was dead. After failing to show up at her job, Amanda's manager and co-workers became worried.

[00:14:19]They had just seen her the day before, and it was extremely unusual for her to miss work without calling first. Her husband was still at sea that day and had no idea what had happened to his wife until he arrived home later that night. At around 11:30 p.m., Amanda's husband made the gruesome discovery.

[00:14:38]Immediately, her husband knew what had happened. The paramedics showed up at the devastating scene. Amanda's husband was holding her tightly in his arms as she was pronounced dead. The medical examiner confirmed that she had died from asphixxiation caused by the python's constriction. The snake was removed from the house after the police found him in another bedroom, visibly agitated and defensive. Amanda's husband asked the authorities to euthanize the animal. Seeing them brought so much pain that he decided to hand over the other snakes to animal control. The news of Amanda's death shocked the entire country. From all over, messages of support, grief, and disbelief filled the newspapers and online forums. Amanda's passion for snakes was obvious in every aspect of her life. But unfortunately, this exact passion led to her terrible, gruesome death.

[00:15:41]Stamford, Connecticut. Treelined streets, neatly trimmed lawns, quiet driveways where neighbors wave as they pass. It was the kind of place where nothing ever happened until it did.

[00:15:51]Behind one of those suburban doors lived an animal no one expected to find there.

[00:15:56]A fully grown chimpanzee named Travis.

[00:15:59]To most of the neighborhood, Travis was a curiosity. To some, a local legend. To one woman, he was family. Travis was born in 1995 and was brought into the home of Sandra Herald, a woman known for her love of animals. From the beginning, Travis wasn't treated like a pet. He wasn't locked in a cage. He wasn't kept outside. He lived inside the house. He wore clothes. He watched television. He brushed his teeth. He drank wine from a stemmed glass. He slept in a bed. Sandra treated him like a son. Neighbors would see Travis riding in the passenger seat of Sandra's car, waving at people through the window. Children pointed.

[00:16:37]Adults laughed nervously. Some were charmed, others were uneasy. Travis even appeared in commercials for Coca-Cola and Old Navy because he was calm, intelligent, and unusually compliant. To the outside world, it looked harmless.

[00:16:52]But what most people didn't understand was this. Travis was not a child. He was not human. He was a 200 lb adult male chimpanzee. And chimpanzees are among the strongest land animals on Earth.

[00:17:05]Poundfor-pound, they are up to five times stronger than a human male. They are territorial. They are unpredictable.

[00:17:12]And when they snap, they do not stop. As Travis grew older, things slowly began to change. He became more dominant, more territorial, more possessive of Sandra.

[00:17:23]Chimpanzees mature around age 8, but Travis was now fully grown, sexually mature, and living in total isolation from his own species. No troop, no hierarchy, no outlet for natural behavior. Experts later said it was only a matter of time. On the afternoon of February 16th, 2009, the warning signs were already there. The day was cold, gray, uneventful. Travis seemed agitated. He grabbed Sandra's car keys and ran into the driveway, pacing and restless. He wasn't listening. He wasn't responding. Sandra panicked. She knew she couldn't physically control him, so she called someone she trusted. Her close friend, Charla Nash. Charla Nash had known Travis for years. She had fed him, spoken to him, helped care for him.

[00:18:11]She had no reason to believe she was in danger. When Sandra called and asked for help getting Travis back inside, Charla didn't hesitate. She drove over immediately. She parked the car, opened the door, and stepped into the driveway.

[00:18:24]That's when everything changed. The moment Charla exited her car, Travis charged. There was no warning growl, no hesitation, no pause. The chimpanzeee sprinted toward her with terrifying speed. Witnesses later described his eyes as wide and unrecognizable. This was not the chimp they knew. Before Charlotte could scream, Travis was on her. He knocked her to the ground and began attacking her face, not biting randomly. Targeting chimpanzees instinctively go for the face and hands to disable, disfigure, and dominate.

[00:18:57]Travis used his teeth and hands like weapons. He ripped at Charlotte's eyes, her nose, her lips, her hands. Sandra screamed and tried to pull him off. She grabbed a shovel and struck him again and again. It did nothing. Charla's screams echoed through the neighborhood.

[00:19:11]In a desperate act, Sandra ran inside and grabbed a butcher knife. When she came back out, Travis was still attacking. Sandra stabbed him repeatedly. Still, he didn't stop. She called 911. Her voice on the recording is frantic, broken, unreal. He's killing her. He's eating her. The dispatcher struggled to comprehend what was happening. A chimpanzee, a woman, a suburban driveway turned slaughterhouse.

[00:19:37]Police confrontation. When police arrived, they were not prepared for what they saw. Travis charged the first patrol car. Blood covered his mouth and fur. He smashed the side mirror and tried to force his way inside. The officer had seconds to react. He fired his weapon. Multiple shots hit Travis, wounded, bleeding, but still moving. The chimpanzeee staggered back into the house. Officers followed cautiously.

[00:20:01]They found Travis collapsed in his bedroom, surrounded by his toys. The same room where he had slept like a child. Moments later, he died. Outside, the scene was unrecognizable. The yard was soaked in blood. Charla Nash was rushed to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma. Doctors described her injuries as some of the worst they had ever seen. She survived, but at an unimaginable cost. Charla had lost both hands, her eyesight, her nose, her lips, her eyelids, her face was gone. Months later, she underwent one of the most complex face transplants in medical history. Her hands were also transplanted, but her body later rejected them. Despite everything, Charla lived. Investigators later described the attack as a perfect storm.

[00:20:51]Travis was a fully grown male chimp, isolated from his species, kept in a human environment, physically stronger than any human present. On top of that, Sandra had reportedly given him anti-anxiety medication earlier that day, something never tested or approved for chimpanzees. Experts believe it may have disoriented or agitated him. But the truth is simpler. Chimpanzees cannot be domesticated. No matter how gentle they seem, no matter how long they've lived with humans, no matter how much love they receive, wild instincts do not disappear, they wait. Years later, Charla Nash would say something that stunned the world. She forgave Travis.

[00:21:33]He didn't know what he was doing. She said he was a chimpanzee. Her story led to stricter exotic animal laws across the United States. But for the people of Stamford, the damage was permanent. A quiet neighborhood will forever be remembered for unimaginable violence.

[00:21:50]And Travis, he wasn't evil. He wasn't malicious. He was a wild animal raised in the wrong world. He was dressed like a child, loved like family, treated like one of us. But on that February day, nature reminded everyone of a brutal truth. Wild instincts never die and once they awaken there is no stopping them.

[00:22:18]On May 18th, 2007, Bokeito, the protagonist of this story, was 11 years old and already a silverback gorilla.

[00:22:27]The male western gorilla was born in captivity at a Berlin zoo. His mother abandoned him at birth, which means Bokeito was actually handraised by human attendance. But in 2005, only a year and a half before the incident that would make Bokido infamous, the male gorilla had to be moved to another zoo in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The reason for his change of scenery was simple.

[00:22:50]Bokido was simply too used to humans, and he didn't show the desired group behavior. In other words, his time as a pampered baby at the Berlin Zoo might have made Bokido more likely to interact with humans than with his fellow gorillas. In changing his habitat, specialists also hoped to avoid the risk of inbreeding among their gorillas and increase Bokeito's chances of leading a normal life. Once he got to Dia Bleorp Zoo in Rotterdam, Boito seemed to farewell. He spent his days inside his enclosure in the great apes section of the zoo. The 11-year-old silverback was popular with visitors, but perhaps none of them were more fascinated with Bokido than 57-year-old Patronella Ivan Dehorda. The woman and her husband would visit Bokido almost every day, sometimes more than four times a week. Dehorta was convinced she and Bokeito shared a special bond. It seemed to her that when she smiled at him, Bokeito would smile back. The gorilla was her darling. In fact, their history went back to before the animal was moved to Roderdam. The woman had pictures and videos of Boido from when he was only 4 months old, a gorilla infant at the Birdland Zoo, and nothing could come between the two of them. Several days before the incident that left the woman injured at the hands and teeth of her beloved gorilla, a zoo caretaker warned the woman about her potentially dangerous behavior. The caretaker told her to stop trying to get close to Bokido and to cease looking him in the eye. To us humans, prolonged eye contact can be a display of trust, a simple gesture that shows emotional connection and mutual understanding. To most mammals, however, eye contact is a signal for dominance, a sign of aggression, a threat, an invitation to violence. Even pets tend to dislike it.

[00:24:42]So, obviously, staring a silverback gorilla in the eye might not be the best idea. However, the Horda chose to ignore the warning, which ultimately proved to be a huge mistake. On May 18th, 2007, the woman and her husband came back to the zoo. As you already know, they were frequent visitors of Bokeitos. But that particular day wasn't great for visiting or staring at the gorilla. According to various sources, Bokino was unhappy. A bit earlier that day, visitors had seen kids throwing stones at the gorilla, which obviously made the animal irritable. Perhaps Dehorta and her husband had no idea about the incident.

[00:25:22]They followed their usual pattern. They approached Bukito's enclosure and spent some time looking at him. As they made their way toward the small apes in Africa's section, a loud splash filled the air and then chaos ensued. Bokido had somehow escaped his enclosure. It was mind-boggling. Not only had the gorilla climbed over a tall wall, but he had also crossed a moat, somehow overcoming his natural lack of swimming skills. People rushed to take cover, hiding their whailing children away from the almost 400-lb ape. But it was also 100% clear that Bokeito was only interested in Petronella Dehorda. When he reached the woman, he grabbed her by the arm. The gorilla crushed Dehorta's hand and broke her wrist and lower arm.

[00:26:07]But it was far from over. The silverback sat with his full weight on the woman, bared his long, sharp canines, and bit her several times. When Dehorta first felt the powerful teeth sinking in her flesh, she was certain she was going to die. She didn't. Instead, Bokito dragged her around by her severely injured arm, making his way toward the zoo's restaurant where several people had taken refuge. Blood covered Boito's mouth. His fury didn't subside as he got into the restaurant. Instead, the silverback gorilla continued his rage fit, smashing windows, chairs, and tables. The rampage was put to an end when Boito was finally sedated with a tranquilizer and placed back in his cage. In the following weeks after the accident, the case became the subject of wide media coverage with people trying to find possible explanations for the silverback's behavior or even picking sides. Immediately after the attack, one zookeeper stated the gorilla may not have found the horde submissive enough when she sought eye contact with him.

[00:27:10]While the woman underwent at least two rounds of surgery, her husband told the media that he was certain Bokeito had targeted his wife and accused the zoo of knowing the gorilla was an escape risk.

[00:27:21]According to Deorta's husband, Bokido had escaped his enclosure before.

[00:27:25]Meanwhile, pimeatlogists, biologists, and even philosophers were featured in the Dutch media. Some of them had unusual explanations about what had happened. According to them, it was love, not fury, that had determined the attack. They said Bokeito was probably in love with the woman, and seeing her everyday without being able to approach her made him frustrated and angry. The zoo's director dismissed these claims.

[00:27:50]"He didn't fall in love with her because gorillas don't fall in love. This is a ridiculous and inappropriate translation of human behavior to ape," Ton Doristain told reporters. However, the man didn't rule out the possibility that Bokeito had simply wanted to integrate the horde into his group given the fact that she'd made a habit out of contacting the gorilla, making him respond to her and then leaving him every time. The director of Bidorb Zoo also shared his belief that the German zoo, where Bokeito was born, had been too lenient with the gorilla, and maybe he was right. Berlin zoo officials admitted that Bokido was even taken to a pizza parlor once when he was young. Blightorp Zoo was also accused of endangering its visitors. As a response, safety measures have since been implemented. The ape enclosure has been modified with a one-way mirror so that Bokido can't see people directing their gaze at him.

[00:28:46]Bokido, now aged 26, still lives in Bidor Zoo in Roderdam with his troop.

[00:28:52]He's fathered 10 offspring, the latest being born in 2022. The story of Bokido is a fascinating one and highlights the complex relationship between humans and animals. It raises important questions about our treatment of gorillas in captivity and the role that zoos play in conserving and protecting these incredible creatures. But what do you think caused this incident? Was it love, fury, or a mix of negligence and ignorance? Let me know in the comments.

[00:29:27]The city of Frier in Texas is famous for one thing, the annual Frier Rattlesnake Roundup. This event promises a weekend of snake competitions, handling displays, barbecue cookoffs, parades, and car shows. It draws in thousands of visitors every year, most of them excited to see the snake handlers work their magic with some of the most venomous snakes in the world. The roundup is one of many that take place across the Midwest and southern United States. More than 100,000 snakes have been known to have been caught from the wild each year during a single roundup.

[00:30:02]It's a tradition that began in the middle of the 20th century. And while the snakes used to be killed for their skins or sold to handlers and collectors, now many of them are returned to the wild after the event. As experts show off the size of their rattlesnakes and educate the audience about their characteristics, they often tell the audience, "Don't try this at home. Leave it up to the experts." But sometimes the experts do get it wrong.

[00:30:28]On April 30th, 2022, 60-year-old Eugene Deleon Senior was performing at the Roundup. He was considered one of the most experienced snake handlers at the show, having tamed and handled snakes for more than 20 years. But despite his expertise and vast knowledge of the rattlesnakes, something was about to go horribly wrong. And tragically, the roundup of 2022 would be Eugene's last.

[00:30:55]Eugene had lived his whole life in Frier. In his professional career, he was an oil field worker for Straightline Construction, High Tide Oilfield Services, and XTX LLC. Now in his 60s, Eugene worked as a custodian at Frier High School and was also a member of the Frier Volunteer Fire Department, giving back to the community through volunteering his time to help save lives. But his true passion was handling rattlesnakes, and he was well known in the local area for it. With Texas home to nine different species of rattlesnake, Eugene's phone was always ringing from worried residents who had found a rattlesnake on their property.

[00:31:32]He would willingly arrive at their home and expertly capture the snake and relocate it. That was what he was known for. As the town of Frier swelled that April weekend with the influx of visitors to the annual show, Eugene readied himself for his performance. He was a firm favorite with the regulars and a crowd gathered around as he began to describe the rattlesnakes in his care. He held them firmly in his grasp, showing off their long bodies and their long fangs, some of them measuring more than an inch long. Education was part of Eugene's repertoire. It was important for people to understand the snakes and the dangers they posed, but also to treat them with the respect they deserve. But on that fateful day, Eugene miscalculated something. He had performed the same routine for years, but this time something went horribly wrong. Maybe it was lapse in judgment.

[00:32:26]Maybe something spooked the snake or distracted Eugene. Whatever it was, Eugene wasn't expecting it. As he held the rattlesnake out in front of him, wowing the audience with his dance-like moves around the reptile, the snake suddenly wheeled around and struck him on the shoulder. It was a western diamondback rattlesnake. They are responsible for the majority of fatal snake bites in Mexico and the greatest number of snake bites in the whole of the United States. Rattlesnakes can strike at speeds of almost 3 m/s or 6.5 mph. This doesn't sound that quick, but they can strike up to a third of their body length, which makes them difficult to get out of the way from when in close proximity. There was no time for Eugene to react. He'd allowed too much of the snake to dangle free from his hands, and it had used its exceptionally muscular body to launch itself at its handler, narrowly avoiding Eugene's face and neck, the snake sunk its fangs into the flesh on his shoulder instead. Eugene instantly put the snake back in its box and clutched his shoulder. Although the potency of the western diamondback rattlesnake's venom is lower than other species, it delivers a much higher dose than others owing to its large venom glands. This makes it exceptionally dangerous. And although the majority of people recover if they receive immediate medical assistance, the young, old, and those in poor health are most likely to succumb to the snake's toxicity.

[00:33:57]Paramedics that were already at the venue were alerted to the accident and rushed to the stage. Realizing the severity of the attack, a helicopter was flown in and Eugene was airlifted to Corpus Christi Hospital 80 mi away. It was 100 p.m. and doctors knew it was a race against time to save Eugene's life.

[00:34:16]When a rattlesnake bites, the venom is injected into the bloodstream, causing fatal damage if left untreated.

[00:34:23]Depending on the species, the venom can contain between five and 15 different substances, including enzymes, proteins, and polyeptides that make it a toxic mixture adapted for rapidly subduing its prey. Not only does the venom disable the victim, but some of its components begin to break down tissues, which aid in digesting the animal once it has died. Eugene would have felt an intense pain at the bite site. His shoulder would have become swollen as the venom began breaking down muscle tissue and working its way through the body. The hemotoxic components disrupted the blood clotting abilities of Eugene's circulatory system. As blood cells started to be destroyed by the venom, the body's ability to clot and prevent massive internal bleeding was severely hampered. Victims need to resist the urge to tourniquet the area as this intensifies the toxicity of the venom at the bite site causing permanent damage to the tissues. Sucking out the venom is also strongly advised against as ingesting it can lead to other major problems. Instead, remaining calm and avoiding movement is the best way to slow the attack on the internal tissues before medical assistance can be sought.

[00:35:35]A numbness came over Eugene's face. His arms tingled and sweat dripped from his brow. He knew exactly what was happening to him. He was knowledgeable about the lethal capabilities of rattlesnake venom, and he had educated hundreds of people about it over the years. Although he could feel the venom taking hold, he forced himself to remain calm. It was the only thing he could do, trying to prevent the venom from coursing through his veins and spreading to every cell in his body. Paralysis began setting in as Eugene's helicopter arrived at the hospital. An overwhelming feeling of nausea came over him as he was wheeled into the emergency department. An IV line was set up immediately and much needed antivenenom was pumped into his blood vessels. But the damage from the bite had been excessive. Eugene's blood pressure was dangerously low. His vital organs had taken a hit and were seriously damaged from the venom. The heart had been damaged and the next day or two would be crucial. But it didn't look like Eugene would make it into the next day. For the next 8 hours, he and the doctors surrounding him battled courageously to stay alive, but his heart finally gave out at 9:00 p.m. that evening. Eugene was pronounced dead at the hospital. His sister, Monica Deus, paid tribute to Eugene, saying that her brother has gained his wings today doing what he loved doing. He had a passion for snake handling at the rattlesnake roundup in Frier. A celebration of Eugene's life took place at St. Francis Depala Catholic Church in July. Many came to pay their respects to the larger than-l life character. One thing he loved more than his beloved rattlesnakes was spending time with his family.

[00:37:18]Sadly, he left behind his mother, son, two daughters, and grandchildren.

[00:37:30]28-year-old Mark Neville was an avid reptile enthusiast. He had three pet snakes at home, including a 9- ft Burmese python, his favorite. Burmese pythons are known for their beautifully patterned skin, rapid growth, and generally docile disposition, making them a popular choice among reptile owners. Nevertheless, these snakes have the capacity to reach enormous lengths of over 20 ft and weigh up to 200 lb.

[00:38:00]They are vicious predators whose great size and strength can force large prey to submit to them. Burmese pythons spend a large portion of their early lives in trees. But as they get bigger, their weight causes them to mostly reside on the ground. Additionally, they can submerge themselves for up to half an hour, making them excellent swimmers.

[00:38:22]Even though they're not poisonous, the sheer force of their constriction can kill their prey, which regrettably includes people. Human fatalities from nonvenenomous snakes are rare, averaging one or two per year worldwide. Most of these incidents involve captive snakes where handlers are either purposefully interacting with their pets or where snakes come into contact with small children or infants. What's interesting about Mark's case is that no one knows for sure why the snake attacked him. In fact, there are two possible reasons.

[00:38:57]According to experts that handled Neville's case, Yaser the python may have been frightened by Neville somehow and was acting defensively. Or it smelled the scent of a cat Neville had petted earlier in the evening. It might also be possible that because of Mark's inebriated state, the noises he made while stumbling through his apartment startled the snake. But let's get back to that fateful day. He made plans to go to a friend's house for some drinks.

[00:39:26]others would join them, so it was bound to be quite the party. The alcohol and music made the hours pass like minutes for Mark, so he suddenly realized it was 2:00 a.m. and probably time to go home.

[00:39:39]He said goodbye to his friends, petted his friend's cat, and went straight home to his modest apartment. Returning home, Neville engaged in his usual routine of checking on his pets. Two of his snakes were securely housed in their enclosures. But as he approached the third cage, his heart sank. It was empty. Panic set in as Neville realized his prized Burmese python, Yaser, was missing. Mark's apartment wasn't that big. There weren't a lot of places a 9- ft python could have hidden, but it was still quite the challenge for the 28-year-old to find his dear pet.

[00:40:15]Actually, it appears the snake found Mark first. In the darkness that engulfed the apartment, the snake heard its owner stumbling around, exuding a rather interesting smell, that of a cat.

[00:40:28]It might have been a combination of the two, then urged the snake to do what it did next. The snake approached its unsuspecting victim, and driven by instinct, wrapped its fangs around his ankle in a ferocious bite. Mark let out a scream and started to shake his leg in order to get the snake off of him. The bite sight was pulsing with pain, so he applied some pressure with his hands. In just a few seconds, the python started to coil around Mark's legs, squeezing him with incredible force. The initial bite was not intended to kill, but to hold its prey in place while it began to coil. Burmese pythons kill through constriction, wrapping their powerful bodies around their prey and tightening their grip with each exhale, preventing the prey from inhaling again. Neville screamed at the snake to stop and threw things around the room in order to distract it. But deep down, he knew it was the beginning of the end. With every move he made, the snake responded with an even tighter hold. The snake's coils dug through Mark's exposed skin, hurting him with every passing second. The less air Neville had, the weaker were his screams for help. He clawed at the python, managing to tear off some of his skin, which was later found under his fingernails. The python's bite had done its job, holding him firmly in place while the coils did the work of suffocating him. Bite marks on his leg would later confirm the theory that the python had latched on first before initiating the constriction.

[00:42:04]As the python's job was coming to an end, Mark's movements became more sluggish. He gasped for breath when the python reached his neck area until finally his body gave in. The snake continued to tighten until Neville's body went limp. Only then did the python begin to relax its grip, sensing that its prey was no longer struggling. It was a process that took mere minutes.

[00:42:29]But to Mark Neville, it must have felt like an eternity. Neville was discovered dead on the floor of his basement apartment on Allison Court just after noon on April 4th, 1992. Yaser, a 9- ft Burmese python that he kept as a pet, had bitten him in the hand and wrapped itself around his throat and chest, suffocating him. The snake was nowhere to be found when Neville's body was discovered. Dr. David Evans, the investigating coroner, arrived to assess the situation. With over 1,500 cases under his belt, he had never encountered anything like this. The signs were unmistakable. bite marks, remnants of snake skin, and the telltale pattern of esphyxiation by constriction. The empty cage confirmed his worst fears. Still, the snake was nowhere to be found. The authorities had to turn the heat off inside the semi- detached house for a day to draw Yaser out of hiding. They put a single light bulb near the snake's cage, and a day later, searchers found the reptile curled up underneath it.

[00:43:36]Following the coroner's inquest into Neville's death, the province was asked to implement licensing laws for exotic and potentially dangerous animals, and the federal government was asked to forbid the importation of exotic animals for sale to the general public as pets.

[00:43:52]Even after 21 years, Canada still lacks a uniform set of regulations pertaining to the ownership of exotic animals. To understand the magnitude of Mark's tragic death, we need to look at other similar cases. In the United States, all known constrictor snake fatalities have involved captive snakes. This highlights a critical point. These animals, while seemingly tame, retain their wild instincts and can become dangerous under certain conditions.

[00:44:24]Now, more than 30 years later, there are still unanswered questions surrounding Mark Neville's death. How did the python manage to open the cage and get out? Why did the snake attack its owner? What made the snake react so violently?

[00:44:40]Wasn't it accustomed to Mark arriving home late at night after a party? Why did the python not complete the attack?

[00:44:48]Why didn't it swallow Mark's dead body as pythons do? All of these questions sadly remain unanswered. Truth be told, an animal's reaction is unpredictable.

[00:45:00]Anything can disturb them in some way or another which can prompt them to enter defensive mode.

[00:45:13]Donna Mason was 74 years old, a widow living 4 mi north of town. Her husband had passed away 14 years earlier. She was alone now. Age had slowed her. She moved carefully with a walker, but her love for wildlife never faded.

[00:45:28]Squirrels, birds, deer, elk, even skunks visited her porch daily. She fed them from her windows or elevated deck. And then there were the bears. She adored them. She set out dog food, bird seed, anything to keep them coming back. Too frail to lift heavy bags, she engineered a pulley system to raise food onto her deck. The animals became her daily companionship. They weren't wild to her.

[00:45:53]They were friends. She believed she understood them. But what Donna didn't realize was that she wasn't just feeding bears. She was training them. And once that conditioning begins, it almost never ends peacefully. Authorities warned her repeatedly. Feeding wildlife was illegal. Feeding bears was dangerous. Certified letters, phone calls, formal cautions. She ignored them all. Neighbors reported seeing as many as 14 bears at once on her property. 14.

[00:46:20]That's not a visit. That's a feeding ground. The bears were growing bold.

[00:46:24]Some approached other homes. Some showed aggression when food wasn't provided.

[00:46:28]But Donna remained firm. She even once told a renter that when her time came, she wouldn't mind going out among the bears. To her, they were misunderstood.

[00:46:36]To officials, they were becoming a public safety threat. And then the behavior escalated. This wasn't just curiosity anymore. It was desperation.

[00:46:45]And desperation in a 400-lb predator changes everything. One bear shattered her car window to reach leftover French fries. Her vehicle was scarred with claw marks. Her garage door was dented and gouged. Still, she continued feeding them. Still, she believed they would never hurt her. About a year after her last renter moved out, Donna was alone again. Two bears had been fighting outside her home. One smaller bear had been injured. Donna couldn't ignore it.

[00:47:12]She called a family member and said she had to go. One of the babies had been hurt. She needed to check on it. That was the last time anyone heard from her.

[00:47:20]What happened next would become one of Colorado's most disturbing black bear fatalities. And it wasn't a random wilderness encounter. It happened on her own porch. On August 7th, 2009, Donna stepped outside carrying food. She stood near a bear, likely speaking to it softly. A flimsy wire fence separated them. She leaned forward to examine the injured animal. No one knows exactly which bear initiated the attack, but at some point, a massive paw reached through the wire. The SWAT was catastrophic. The blow tore into her face. She fell unconscious instantly.

[00:47:56]Her walker remained upright inside the fence. A silent witness. A 400-lb male black bear dragged her body beneath the barrier. She never regained consciousness. She was consumed. But here's what investigators initially questioned. Was it an attack or was she already dead when the bear fed? The answer would come from the autopsy. The next morning, a handyman arrived to do scheduled painting. He found her remains and called authorities. Animal control responded quickly. Two bears were shot at the scene. The first, 250 lbs, showed no evidence of feeding. The second, nearly 400 lb, contained human tissue and bone fragments. The autopsy revealed severe blunt force trauma. She did not suffer a heart attack. She died from the attack itself. Since 2019, Colorado has recorded multiple bear injuries. When humans feed wildlife, natural selection is altered. In the wild, weaker bears die off. But when food is handed out, even aggressive or maladaptive bears survive. They learn. They associate humans with food. And eventually, they stop fearing us. In nearby areas, bears have leapt from dumpsters onto residents. They raid tents. They tear through backpacks. They claw into vehicles. Wildlife officials have stated clearly, "Coloratans have unintentionally trained bears to misbehave just so they can survive."

[00:49:17]Donna believed she had formed trust. But in nature, there is no friendship. There is instinct. And instinct does not recognize good intentions. This was not a random wilderness tragedy. It was years in the making. Conditioning, habituation, dependency, until one night the boundary disappeared. If you watch Fierce to understand the reality of wildlife encounters, make sure you're subscribed because the next story might be even closer to home. Stay alert, stay prepared, and remember, in the wild, compassion without caution can be fatal.

[00:49:55]In late September 2025, 60-year-old Max Thomas drove deep into the Ozark National Forest to a place called Sam's Throne Recreation Area. Locals know it as a rugged paradise. Rocks rise from the forest like broken teeth. The night sky burns with starlight, and Max, he wanted to sleep right under it. No tent, no cabin, just his sleeping bag, the wind, and the quiet hum of crickets echoing through the pines. He sent his family pictures that first evening, photos of the cliffs, the trees, and a black bear that had wandered into his camp. At first, it was thrilling. A story to tell later. He even messaged his son. Got a bear hanging around. He's curious but harmless. But the days passed and then silence. No more texts, no more calls. His son, Andrew, grew uneasy. He knew his father was an outdoorsman, careful, seasoned, the kind who double-cheed everything before a trip. When Max stopped responding, Andrew called the Newton County Sheriff's Office. A deputy drove up into the recreation area, weaving along dirt switchbacks through the heavy trees until he reached Max's empty camp. No Max, no movement, just scattered gear.

[00:51:08]Then the deputy saw it. Drag marks leading from the camp into the woods.

[00:51:14]They followed the marks about 180 ft through the brush. There, among the leaves and ferns, they found Max Thomas.

[00:51:22]He had been killed by a bear, mauled, and dragged from his campsite.

[00:51:25]Authorities believe it happened in broad daylight. The animal responsible, a black bear weighing between 150 and 170 lbs, was later tracked and killed nearby. Testing is underway to confirm it was the same bear. For the Ozarks, the news hit like lightning. It had been 133 years since the last fatal bear attack in the region. Now, it had happened twice in one month. The first tragedy struck earlier that September, more than 80 miles away in Franklin County, Arkansas. It was an ordinary morning on the Patton family farm.

[00:51:58]72-year-old Vernon Patton climbed into his tractor to work his land, something he'd done regularly for years. As he drove, a shape moved from the treeine. A juvenile black bear, about 70 lb, gaunt and malnourished, charged across the field. Before Vernon could react, it was on him, claws raking, jaws snapping. His son, hearing his father's screams, sprinted toward the tractor. He managed to scare the animal off, but the damage was done. Vernon Patton died 11 days later in the hospital. Authorities called it an extraordinary event, a perfect storm of desperation and bad luck. That bear they discovered was suffering from malnutrition and neurological damage, possibly diseased, starving, or poisoned. Wildlife officials described it as not functioning normally. But the attacks didn't stop there. When news of Max Thomas's death broke, panic rippled through the Ozark community. For generations, locals had hiked, camped, and hunted among black bears without fear. Most bears, everyone knew, avoided humans entirely. Now, two men were dead.

[00:53:01]One in his own field, one dragged from his camp. Social media exploded with questions. What's happening to the bears? Are they getting used to people?

[00:53:10]Should we be hunting them again?

[00:53:11]Officials scrambled to calm the storm.

[00:53:14]Keith Stevens from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission told reporters, "Our thought process was that this bear had probably had a few meals in that campground. Maybe just people leaving scraps." In other words, this wasn't a rogue killer. It was a bear that had learned humans mean food. A single habit, a few left behind camp scraps may have turned a wild predator into a danger. The last time a bear killed anyone in Arkansas was in May of 1892.

[00:53:41]Back then, newspapers described a half-st starved black bear that wandered from the woods to a frontier cabin. Two children were playing outside. The bear attacked them both. After that, the bear population nearly vanished. Hunting, trapping, and deforestation erased them from most of the Ozarks. By the 1950s, Arkansas had only a handful of black bears left. Then came the great reintroduction. Between 1958 and 1968, wildlife officials brought hundreds of black bears south from Minnesota and Manitoba. Those animals thrived. They spread into Missouri, Oklahoma, and back across the Ozark Range, reclaiming their ancestral territory. Today, Arkansas is home to over 5,000 black bears. Missouri has just over 1,000, growing at 9% a year. Even Oklahoma now counts more than 1,000. After 100 years of silence, the Ozarks are wild again. And with that wildness comes risk. The Ozark Mountains, rugged, beautiful, and isolated, stretch across four states.

[00:54:46]They're a patchwork of thick forests, limestone ridges, and endless hollows.

[00:54:51]When you camp there, you're not just in nature. You're in bear country. But here's the thing. Fatal bear attacks are still extremely rare. A national study found just five deaths from black bears in the entire central United States between 1900 and 2009. That's five deaths in over a century. Yet, in the fall of 2025, two happened in one month.

[00:55:13]Coincidence or a warning? Experts say don't overreact. Dan Zarlanga of the Missouri Department of Conservation wrote, "These two tragic cases involving black bears are highly uncommon, even in North America as a whole." Sheriff Glenn Wheeler echoed the same. I don't want this to become open season on any bear that someone may see. Most bears fear humans and run away. Still, fear spreads faster than facts. What went wrong? In both cases, the bears were acting out of desperation, not aggression. The first was starving, disoriented, possibly sick. The second, the one that killed Max Thomas, had likely been fed by campers, either intentionally or through carelessness. When a bear starts linking humans to food, it begins to lose its natural caution. It gets bold, curious, even dominant. To a bear, that cooler full of sandwiches or that trash bag beside your tent isn't just garbage.

[00:56:09]It's a buffet. And when the food disappears, the bear may decide to investigate further. In Max's case, that curiosity may have turned into tragedy.

[00:56:18]Bringing bears back to the Ozarks was one of conservation's great success stories. But success has a cost. Each year, more people move into the hills, building homes, cabins, and campgrounds in what was once wilderness. Urban sprawl cuts deeper into bear country every season. Missouri officials warned that encounters will rise as bears expand north toward St. Louis. Zarlanga wrote, "Urban sprawl into more wooded areas will likely increase the chance of bear sightings and encounters. It's not the bears invading our world, it's us walking into theirs." The black bear is both feared and admired. To the early settlers, it was a symbol of the untamed frontier, something to conquer. To modern conservationists, it's proof that wilderness can heal. But after two fatal attacks, the question hangs heavy over the Ozarks. Can humans and bears truly coexist? Hunting is now permitted in all three states. Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma each have bear seasons, tightly controlled, limited quotas. Last year, 15 bears were legally taken in Missouri out of a limit of 40. This fall, the season runs from October 18th to the 31st, only weeks after Max's death. For some, hunting is the answer. Population control and fear management. For others, it feels like revenge. But nature doesn't think in revenge. It only reacts when food runs low, when the forests grow crowded, when humans forget the rules of the wild. Tragedy finds a way back. In the aftermath, investigators combed through Max's campsite. There were scraps of food nearby, maybe leftovers from earlier meals. It was enough to draw a bear in. Officials remind campers to lock away all food, not just trash, but toothpaste, deodorant, anything scented. Even a candy wrapper can trigger a bear's hunger response. For Max, that warning came too late. For the Patton family, it came too late. Two men in two very different places, connected by the same truth. Wilderness doesn't forgive forgetfulness. Today, if you stand at Sam's throne at sunset, you can still hear the wind rustle through the pines.

[00:58:25]The forest looks peaceful again.

[00:58:27]Somewhere out there, bears still roam, silent, watchful, alive. And though their numbers are growing, they are still wild, still wary of us unless we teach them not to be. Officials stress that these deaths, though horrifying, shouldn't turn to hate. The Ozarks remain bear country and always have been. The goal isn't to fear the wild, but to respect it. Max Thomas came to the Ozarks for the stars, to sleep under the sky he loved. Vernon Patton died working the land that had fed his family for decades. Both men were victims of something older than us. Something that has always existed beyond the glow of campfires and porch lights. For 133 years, the Ozarks knew peace between humans and bears. But the wilderness never forgets what it once was. And sometimes it reminds us in memory of Max Thomas and Vernon Patton, whose stories remind us that wild places are still wild.

[00:59:31]Soon after his parents' divorce in 1998, Arlon got his first pet snake at the age of 13, and the rest, as they say, was history. One snake quickly turned into two, and from there, Arlon grew his collection. He went on to study biology at St. Petersburg National University, where he bred axelottus to fund his studies. In 2007, he secured his dream job of working at the Lenningrad Zoo Terrarium. He was being paid to look after the animals he had been fascinated with his entire life. And what's more, he had now met a woman who was equally fascinated with them. Arlon and Katya documented the species they owned on their YouTube channel, Exotarium, and created another channel together called Bobcat TV, which was about felines.

[01:00:22]Their online business was growing, but so was the pressure to keep more and more reptiles in their house to showcase to their followers. Arlon and Katya married on September 30th, 2015. It was a happy occasion, but Arselon had a dark side. Arlon's fascination with snakes became an obsession, and soon their house was filled with tanks of all sizes, housing some of the most lethal animals on the planet. With the reptiles encroaching on their own living space, coupled with Arslan's physical outbursts, Kacia was gradually driven away. On August 4th, 2017, Arlon accused his wife of cheating on him and hit her so hard that she suffered a concussion.

[01:01:07]He told his friends about his angry outburst and made a public apology to her. But the damage was done and Katya knew she had to move out. Although they both still loved each other, it was clear that she needed to get away from him. Arlon was heartbroken by the dramatic turn of events, never in his life did he imagine the love of his life would walk out on him. But it was his fault and he recognized that. Less than a month later, Arlon realized that life got too much for him. He decided to end it, but he opted for a dramatic exit. He flicked on the camera on his computer and reported live to their followers on their YouTube channel. He walked over to the tank which held one of his favorite snakes, Mamba. As the name suggests, this was a black mamba, one of the deadliest snakes in the world. They can grow up to 14 ft long, shift at up to 12 mph, and deliver deadly bites. Each fang can secrete 20 drops of venom, and it takes just two drops to kill a man.

[01:02:17]Our son opened Mamba's tank, took a deep breath, and placed his hand inside.

[01:02:22]Known for their aggressive nature and never want to shy away from a threat, the black Mamba instantly struck out. A muffled ouch could be heard on the live stream. The black mama's fang had pierced the skin on Arcelon's finger, and he walked back to his chair, sitting in front of the camera to explain to his audience what had happened. His finger began tingling almost immediately. He knew that the venom was now searing through his body, making its way to his vital organs. It was only a matter of time now, but he still had so much to say. He calmly held his finger up for all to see. Two droplets of blood oozed from the puncture wounds. He then said, "If I die, I die." But he had a lot to get off his chest and so little time. A black mamba bite can kill within 20 minutes. And Arlon knew that. As the effects started taking over his body, he pleaded for viewers to contact Katya. He wanted to speak with her one last time.

[01:03:27]He wanted to tell her how sorry he was and that she had his blessing to move on with another man. He stated Katya's phone number and hoped someone who was watching would get the message to her.

[01:03:39]If someone manages to call her, he said if she has time to come to me and see me, I would be happy. But time was slipping away from him. His body was shutting down. He quickly wrote a message on his phone for his wife. It would be found later. It read, "I see that everything has passed for you. A new life began with someone you have long been close to. There were no betrayals. They started the date at the end of July, and I believe Katya about this. I am sincerely happy about it, but too weak not to react with stupidities.

[01:04:16]In any case, my crimes have only come back to me. Take this with humor, laugh at me, and go further. I cannot describe in words the extent of my disappointment with myself. I cannot describe the shock that I experience every day when I wake up in this new world without someone I have lost and deserve to lose who I was with a couple of seconds ago in a dream.

[01:04:42]If it makes you feel better, it hurts and I'm lonely. I know what to do. I have heard a lot of advice, but the feeling of emptiness and a broken life can only pass with time. Miracles do not happen. We do not live in a fairy tale.

[01:04:59]By the time he had written the message, his hands had started to seize up. They were beginning to become paralyzed. His breathing became rapid and his bloodshot eyes began moving involuntarily, rolling backwards as he tried to clear his vision. His muscles began to shut down.

[01:05:17]It was all happening so fast. a live broadcast of a terrifying and heartbreaking suicide. The viewers were gripped, but some acted on the man's desperate please. Someone called the emergency services and another contacted Katya. Pass on to Katya that I loved her very much. Arlon continued to say, "In fact, I'm already dying. Farewell. I would be glad to see Katya. Damn, I'm shaking." He managed to mumble these words into the camera, perhaps showing a glimpse of regret over his decision to end his life. He had been a snake expert for 20 years, and he knew how black mamba venom worked. But to actually witness it and to feel the terrifying effects of it was shocking for Arselon.

[01:06:06]He decided at the last minute that this had all been a mistake. Instead of dying in his chair that day, he realized that he wanted to live and he needed immediate medical attention. He stood up and stumbled outside his home. His mother had heard about the broadcast and rushed to his house to see her son collapse on the sidewalk outside. An ambulance pulled up moments later and raced our son to the hospital, but he was in critical condition. His final wish had been to see Katya again. When her phone rang and one of the channels viewers blurted out what had happened to her husband, she dropped everything and sped to our salon's house. He was nowhere to be found. She realized that he must have already made it to the hospital. She arrived at the emergency department minutes later, but she was too late. Arlon had succumbed to the toxic venom. He had left it too late for medical intervention to help him.