[RedMonqey]

Sure, with the intention of eating them.

According to the BBC, the boys were handling goats, llamas and other animals earlier in the day.

The boys smelled like the snakes' prey and radiated heat like their prey so the snake struck. Got a better scent of the "prey" became confused because the first victim didn't "taste" like familiar food, launched after the second boy, got the same results.

Mind you just conjecture on my part but such a scenario is possible.

[HerrBlucher]

Then there will be bite marks on the boys. I have been bitten several times by (non poisonous) snakes, and they do draw blood, and one that big would draw a lot of blood. Bite marks should have been readily apparent on the boys (from a snake that large) but there has been no mention of it.

I think they were murdered and the snake is getting the rap for it, but the autopsy will confirm.