Florida woman let snake bite baby and posted Facebook video, police say
SEBRING, Fla. -- A Florida woman is under investigation after apparently posting a video on Facebook showing a red rat snake biting her 1-year-old daughter.
According to a charging affidavit, Chartelle Geanette St. Laurent, 34, said she grew up catching and interacting with snakes and other reptiles, CBS affiliate WTSP reports. She said that because she has seen poisonous snakes on her property before, she thought it would be a good idea to teach her child about it.
According to WTSP, she caught a 14-inch, non-venomous red rat snake in a Tupperware container and put it in front of the child. The video showed St. Laurent holding the snake in front of the child, who reached for it -- and then the snake bit her on the right thumb.
St. Laurent can be heard laughing while the child is crying, which she said was because she was surprised, according to the affidavit.
The child was not injured by the bite. St. Laurent said she had allowed the snake to bite her first to make sure the snake would not injure the child.
St. Laurent said she had allowed the snake to bite her first to make sure the snake would not injure the child.
St. Laurent said "people are too sensitive," and has since deleted the Facebook video.
The affidavit will be forwarded to the State Attorney's Office, who will decide whether charges will be filed.
