Elliott Senseman from Upper Macungie died Sunday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, four days after the snake — one of several he cared for in his home — wrapped itself around his neck and strangled him. Police had to fatally shoot the snake to make it loose its grip..
The story made not only attention locally, but also news around the nation and the globe..
From the Go Fund Me:
This gofundme is for the family of Elliott Senseman in order to help with the cost of his funeral. He left this world on Sunday, July 24. Elliott had a passion for life and lived it to the fullest. Elliott rescued and rehabilitated snakes for years and it was something he loved. Because of this passion Elliott was taken from us all too soon. According to his family, Elliott was creative, brilliant, selfless, and passionate. He had so much more to offer this world.
The tragic chain of events began after an attack occurred on Wednesday, July 20 when Senseman’s pet boa constrictor wrapped itself around his neck at his home. Reports indicate that the snake strangled Senseman causing cardiac arrest.. Officers arrived at his home at 2 pm and had to fatally shoot the snake in the head to free Senseman from its grip. Senseman was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest.
Family told media that he had been cleaning cages when the snake, described as a “boa constrictor-type,” attacked him. He was discovered by his grandmother and was in cardiac arrest by the time police arrived.
On Sunday, July 24, Senseman died at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. The cause of the death was anoxic brain injury due to asphyxiation by constriction, the Lehigh County coroner’s office said while ruling the death an accident.
After the event, when the Associated Press picked up the story, it went global. The AP reported,
Upper Macungie Township police and the coroner’s office are investigating. Police told WTXF-TV that the snake was the man’s pet and that several other snake enclosures were found in the home. Investigators don’t know the circumstances of the attack because “the dire situation” precluded “extended interviews … about the snake, its origin, or anything along those lines,” Lt. Peter Nickischer said Monday.
Senseman’s mother Heather Lyons described him as “eccentric and fun and unique and brilliant.” “Everything he did was for other people. Even the damn snakes, he was rescuing them from people who couldn’t take care of them.”
She also said her son was pursuing a patent for an irrigation system to help food grow in parts of Africa.
Further, family went on to describe said Senseman as an accomplished handler who had been working with reptiles for years.
Prior to this event, there was only one known and reported incident of a boa constrictor killing a human being–and that too was a pet.
In that case, 34-year-old Cory Byrne was outside his home in Omaha, Nebraska on June 10th, 2010, and he was said to have been showing off his “9-foot 25-pound boa constrictor” to a friend when the snake “wrapped around his shoulders and neck and squeezed”, according to Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov.
Concerning the newest and tragic situation, Senseman will be laid to rest on July 30..
The final paragraph of his poignant obituary states,
May he rest in peace and may his family find solace through a deep period of grief.
