Posted on 05/21/2004 11:55:33 AM PDT by HAL9000
Investigators have reportedly drawn a connection between a Scotsman found dead last week in east Little Rock and venomous African snakes discovered the next day in a wooden box about half a mile away.Though Little Rock police confirmed the Scotsman and the snakes were connected, they wouldnt say how they were linked or whether the man died from a snakebite, said Scott Carter, spokesman for the city of Little Rock.
Police interviewed Little Rock Zoo officials Thursday morning, asking questions about venomous bites and the four snakes taken to the zoo last week. "They wanted to know what kind of snakes they were, and they wanted to know if they could bite through the bags," said Little Rock Zoo Director Mike Blakely, referring to the cloth bags the snakes were found in. "I said, Yes, they could. "
Investigators told zoo officials they are investigating an unusual death that may be linked to the snakes, Blakely said.
Authorities would not comment Thursday on the investigation. "Im not going to talk about it," Little Rock Police Capt. Tom Bartsch said. He added that he couldnt control what zoo officials said about police work, but that he wouldnt discuss an ongoing investigation.
On May 13, police found the body of Garrick Wales, 48, of Kilmacolm, Scotland, in a rented Chevy Blazer on Gregg Street near the Little Rock National Airport, Adams Field, according to a police report.
Wales body has been sent to the state Crime Laboratory for an autopsy, and the case is classified as an undetermined death.
A day after Wales body was found, a curious Little Rock resident discovered the foreign snakes after he spotted a wooden box in a grassy area near Sixth and Byrd streets with a handwritten message that read "live venomous reptile."
Inside the box, in separate cloth bags were a 14-inch-long twig snake, a 6-foot-long green mamba, a 4-foot black mamba and a 5-foot forest cobra. The snakes were estimated by zoo officials to be worth about $1,000.
The serpents apparently spent at least two days in the box before Paul Mitchell, a purchasing agent for IK Electric, found the snakes and took them to the Little Rock Zoo.
Police found Wales alone and reclined in the drivers seat of the Blazer about 7:14 a.m. He was "very pale," according to the police report. Police said Wales apparently threw up in the front and rear of the vehicle.
A woman reached at Wales Scotland home said she was Wales wife but was "not in a position to talk about" her husbands death. "Im still very upset," said the woman who wished only to be identified as Mrs. Wales. She said her husband was in Little Rock on business, but she wouldnt say what he did for a living.
Investigators said in the report that Wales had been staying at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Little Rock, but they didnt say for how long.
The four African snakes were taken to the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin, Texas, on Wednesday after a short stay at the Little Rock Zoo. No lifesaving antivenin exists in Arkansas to treat a bite from the snakes.
The Little Rock Zoos reptile handler, Randal Berry, drove the snakes to Texas, but couldnt be reached at the zoo or his home for comment Thursday, the day he was to return from the trip.
After the mysterious snake discovery, Berry said earlier this week that a Delta Air Lines official confirmed that a shipment of venomous reptiles arrived in Little Rock on May 13 from Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Berry continued with plans to transfer the reptiles to Texas after airline officials wouldnt release any details about the snakes owners. "Delta does not give out information about passengers or customers or information as far as who receives shipments and things," said Anthony Black, a spokesman at the companys corporate office in Atlanta.
Information for this article was contributed by Dauphne Trenholm of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Former snake handlin' preacher?
What did the Scotsman know? And when did he know it?
One was captured after a couple of days. Two weeks later someone tampered with the snake traps and hauled off the other.
Just the other day, my neighbor asked had I seen any snakes around, I said no and asked why. She stated her friend would come out and get the snake if I let her know. My wife called me in just when I was about to ask the neighbor what her friend does with dead snakes.
And was he wearing a kilt...................? ............enquiring minds seek to know
The tale about it being as fast as a horse is obviously not true .....but the part about goosebumps, well, have a look at a mamba. They will give you goosebumps ...especially when you know what they can do. And yes, when they strike they do it repeatedly.
I'm not following something. So the Scotsman had the snakes shipped to Little Rock? Why would he, after getting bitten, leave the bag/box in a field? Why wouldn't he drive himself to the hospital?
Thanks for the bump.
Very interesting.
Sounds like something Rummie would do. Or we could blame the t wins.
No anti-venom available in the hospital.
Ahaaa.......interesting. He droppped off the snakes on his way to the airport??
So she died of fear?
Apparently black mambas are very swift, as snakes go: "Known as the world's fastest snake, the black mamba can reach speeds of between 7 and 12 mph and possibly as fast as 15 mph for short distances while chasing prey."
Shudder....
I think you should toss the Australian TIger Snake and the Taipan in that list. All Elapids with highly toxic venoms and a bad attitude.
Anybody keeping or purchasing snakes like this should have a supply of anti-venin around specific to the snake, some adrenalin in case they go into anaphylactic shock from the horse serum, and well-prepared last will and testament.
Impressive animals but definitely not for the amateur. Vipers and even Cobras are a lot easier to handle.
How did they know it was a Scotsman? Was he wearing a kilt?
Does ANYTHING NORMAL ever happen in Arkansas??
No, she died of misplaced literalism.... ;-)
Ping!
Och, laddie - so tha's wha they keep 'neath their kilties...
Ummm, I'm guessing by the fangs, maybe?
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