RCReptiles.com

[reptilehunter]

Reptiles stolen, killed
By Jason Gibbs Sun-News reporter


Roy Thibodeau takes Gloria, a 10-foot albino Burmese python, to the veterinarian Monday after she was stabbed during a burglary at Las Cruces Reptile Rescue. (Sun-News photo by Norm Dettlaff)

LAS CRUCES — Gloria was stabbed in the neck during a home invasion late Sunday.

Now, those closest to her hope she will survive and return to her job educating area children about reptiles. Her survival is more than her caretaker expected after he found her — and several of her housemates — bleeding, wounded or dead Monday morning. Many of her companions weren't so lucky. At last count, there are at least five dead and a dozen missing — many of them just babies.

When Doña Ana County Sheriff's officers found Gloria, a 10-foot-long albino Burmese python who has served as the poster-python for Las Cruces Reptile Rescue for the past three years, they thought she was a goner.

When she began to show signs of life, it provided a bright spot in what was otherwise a dismal day for the shelter program's director.

"She's my baby," said Mike Daniels, director of the reptile rescue program. "She's like one of my kids. It was just a huge sigh of relief when she was alive. When I went in, she was covered in blood."

Daniels' home, where several rescued reptiles were housed, was burglarized and vandalized sometime between 8 p.m. Sunday and around 9 a.m. Monday, when he arrived home after working his shift as a Las Cruces firefighter, he said.

Several reptiles were killed, including one reticulated python, two gray-banded king snakes, a bearded dragon (an Australian lizard) and a round-tail horned lizard. Other animals were missing, including two baby Burmese pythons, six corn snakes and five milk snakes.

The animals, most of which have been rescued by the organization, were the apparent target of the attack, Daniels said. Several were killed, others wounded, and their container cages were smashed. During the break-in, Daniels also lost a mountain bike, several DVD's and a digital camera in addition to having his home trashed.

"This is just ridiculous," said former rescue director Roy Thibodeau as he stood outside Daniels' home, nestled in the Organ foothills near N.M. Highway 70. "We poured our heart and soul into this for six years. Now, to have someone come in and do this, we're just devastated."

After finding the destruction, Daniels spent the better part of Monday afternoon packing up his belongings and looking for a place to stay for the next few days. The haven he and his reptiles called home will be boarded up, abandoned, no longer a place of safe refuge, he said.

It's just another episode in what neighbor Cecilia Belmontez characterized as increasing activity by unsupervised teenagers roaming the neighborhood.

"There's no discipline," she said. "There are times I stop kids, ask them what they are doing, and they

say, It's none of your business.' I say, Hell yes it's my business.' This is my community."

Belmontez said there has been a recent spike in graffiti in the neighborhood, and a growing reluctance among the older residents to speak out for fear of retaliation.

Robin Gojkovich, the sheriff's department investigator in charge of the crime scene, said officers were able to lift "several" fingerprints that they will compare to databases in hopes of catching the criminals. Other evidence was collected at the scene that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of the culprits, she said.

When caught, the offenders face charges of conspiracy to commit residential burglary, residential burglary, criminal damage to property greater than $1,000 and larceny. Those are just the first charges that may be filed, Gojkovich said. She is consulting with the district attorney's office and federal officials to see if additional charges may be leveled.

In addition, state officials may pursue criminal and civil damages against the criminals because two of the animals killed are listed on the state endangered species register.

Under the state wildlife conservation act, those found guilty of the crime could face up to $1,000 fine and six months in jail for each of the two endangered animals killed.

Additionally, they could be sued in civil court for their actions, up to another $1,000.

Meanwhile, Daniels plans to continue his work to rescue reptiles and educate the public about their important role in the ecosystem while he hopes for Gloria's recovery.

"She was suffering all night long," he said. "But they didn't crush her skull. She's alive. We'll start anew."

Jason Gibbs can be reached at jgibbs@lcsun-news.com

You can help

If you have any information about this break-in, please call the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office at 525-1911.

Get involved

Donations of time, supplies or financial support to help Las Cruces Reptile Rescue can be made by calling the program director, Mike Daniels, at 312-3208 or former director Roy Thibodeau at 496-8111

On the Net

Learn more about Las Cruces Reptile Rescue at www.awesomereptiles.com

[GingerValentine]

Wow thats just awful :( Why would anyone do that? its horrid. I'd rather them take all the items in my house than hurt or kill my pets. thats one of my greatest fears... god thats truely a horrible experience

[slitheringin]

That was just out and out malicious mayhem I'm sorry if I offend someone here, but if that happened to me, or if I lived in that area, I'd be out hunting some 2 legged prey. Anyone who can do that kind of harm to defenseless animals needs to be taught some very hard lessons and I'm just the person to do it.

[GingerValentine]

[lindsey_marshall00]

i am with ginger on the can't kill an animal, that is why I feed live, and let peanut do his thing. I am really thinking about the f/t deal but I then have issues about touching dead animals. Soooo maybe i am going to stick with live.

[slitheringin]

I can kill if there is a need to, and to save my snakes from unnecessary harm I would do it. However, I feed live prey, but stun it thoroughtly first, then let the snake do the killing.

However, I don't condone, nor do I tolerate needless harm, torture or killing of animals (or humans for that matter). Life is precious. What those people did to those animals was inexcusable.

[GingerValentine]

[slitheringin]