An autopsy of Shaianna Hare, a 2 year old girl from Oxford, Florida, revealed that she died from asphyxiation by a Burmese Python snake. It was a tragic death that could have been prevented if the snake was placed in a more secure environment. The snake is still alive after it was treated for stab wounds inflicted by the owner to remove the snake from the girl. A criminal investigation is underway. No criminal charges have been filed as of yet. You can read more about this story at Autopsy Confirms that Snake Asphyxiated 2 Year Old Girl Causing Death.

The owner of the snake did not have a license for the snake. There are also questions as to the type of living environment used to house the snake. When a person commits to own any exotic animal or domestic animal for that matter, precautions must be taken to protect children from being harmed by the animal.

The Florida Times Union reported that two teenagers (Malik Lee - age 13 and James Nelson - age 16) were recently hit by an older driver in Baker County. It was reported that a 92 year old driver was driving on County Road 139 when the incident took place. The incident took place at 8:00 p.m. in the evening. The teenagers were taken to Shands Jacksonville for treatment and evaluation of serious personal injuries. You can read more about this story at Rain Leads Older Driver to Hit Younger Teenage Pedestrians.

Throughout the year in Florida, there are festivals and parades that allow big towns and small towns alike to celebrate holidays, special events, and local pride, In Monticello, Florida, Ruth G. Dibiase died after being the victim of a crash at the Watermelon Festival.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported that Corteze Woody, 18, of Monticello, Florida was driving 60 miles per hour as he approached the Monticello downtown district. The speed limit in the areas is 25 miles per hour. Woody passed several vehicles before hitting a parked ambulance and SUV. The SUV flipped over. Ms. Dibiase was in the SUV at the time of the impact. This tragedy appears to have been caused by excessive speed and inattention. You can read more about this story at Woman Dies After Being Hit In Parked SUV at Watermelon Festival in Monticello, Florida.

In Ohio and other states, police detectives must be prepared for the unusual. Interviewing a witness can reveal unexpected details and information regarding a criminal investigation. In Warren, Ohio, a police detective was interviewing a witness who had a squirrel pop out of her cleavage. Yes, you read this correctly - a squirrel popped out of her cleavage. Read this month's newsletter - Legal Briefs by David Wolf to see the video and my brilliant legal analysis of squirrel in the cleavage matters that arise in personal injury cases.

In Oxford, Florida (Sumter County), a 12 foot long Burmese python snake broke out of its aquarium and strangled Shuannia Hare, a 2 year old girl. The snake's owner, Charles Jason Darnell, discovered that the snake was out of the aquarium and found the snake on the 2 year old girl. The girl had bite marks on her head. It was reported that Mr. Darnell did not have a permit for the snake. It is uncertain from reports how Mr. Darnell obtained possession of the snake. It is certainly tragic that a 2 year old girl died from a snake strangulation while in her own home. You can read more about this story at Escaped Pet Python Strangled Two Year Old Girl.

Any business or homeowner in possession of a snake should make sure that the snake is contained in a safe, secure aquarium, cage, or container. Snakes should be safeguarded away from children and in a place that cannot be accessed by children or pets.

In Florida and other states, parents should be careful as to which day care centers they pick to care for their children. In Tampa, Florida, Dorothy Ann Sampson-Monroe, repeated violated the law and ignored orders from Judges and law enforcements authorities. Ms. Sampson-Monroe ran a day care center called Just For Kids Day Care. There were numerous complaints about the care provided at Just for Kids Day Care Center. If you had a child at Just for Kids Day Care Center and believe that your child was abused or neglected, report the incidents to the local sheriff's office, the Department of Children and Families, or to a child injury lawyer. You can read more about this problematic and defiant day care center operator at Injunction Filed Against Kids Day Care in Tampa, Florida.

In Florida and other states, it is common for children to bring their toys into cars. Toys give the children something to do and occupy their time while riding in cars. Unfortunately, loose toys can be dangerous if they come near a brake, accelerator, or steering wheel of a vehicle. Some toys can also block vision of the driver. In Orange County, Florida, Robert Reyes was driving on Lake Underhill Road with his two children as passengers. As he was driving a toy rolled under his brake which, in turn prevented Mr. Reyes from being able to stop his vehicle. Thereafter, Mr. Reyes crashed into the gas vents of a local 7-11 convenience store. While the crash may have been unexpected and unpredictable, news reports state that Mr. Reyes was driving on a suspended license for being a habitual traffic offender. You can read more about this story at Rolling Toy in Car Causes Automobile Accident

Michael Grady will forever be a hero to his son, family, and the community. While on vacation in North Carolina, 12 year old, Austin Grady, got stuck in some boulders in a mountain stream. His father, Michael Grady, got into the water and positioned himself to save his son and keep his son above water. Tragically, Michael Grady got trapped as well and ultimately died from hypothermia from being in the water too long. The incident happened in the Cullasaja River near Highlands, North Carolina. You can read more about this story at Father Loses His Life Saving Son from Drowning in North Carolina.

A toddler was recently hospitalized after being hit by a a vehicle at the Coquina Oaks Trailer Park in St. Johns County, Florida. The driver, Preston Storey, informed the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office that he did not see the child as he was driving out of the trailer park. The child was rushed to Shands Jacksonville via air ambulance. You can read more about this story at Toddler Rushed to Shands Jacksonville After Being Hit by a Vehicle.

In Florida, summer time gets kids outside. It is a time for swimming, bicycle riding, running away, going to the beach, and playing all kinds of other sports. It is also a time for kids to get injuries from minor ones to more serious personal injuries. It is helpful for parents, counselors, caregivers, and others to have some first aid essentials available for children including: sunscreen, hydrocortisone cream, antibiotic creams and ointments, bug spray, bandages, band aids, gauze pads, hydroperoxide, and other essentials.

It is vital that children stay well nourished and hydrated during these hot summer days. Parents and caregivers should do their best to prevent problems or injuries from taking place at all. When there is a problem, use your first aid kit. For more serious problems and injuries, consult with your pediatrician or go to a local emergency room. You can read more about common summer time injuries at Summer - A Time for Fun and a Time for First Aid.

In Georgia, Florida, and other states, law enforcement and correction officials utilize electronic monitoring bracelets to track the whereabouts and movements of sexual offenders and predators. When a registered sexual predator / offender removes his or her monitoring device, this is a violation of probation which will result in the issuance and execution of an arrest warrant, In Putnam County, Florida, a convicted sexual predator, Paul Robert Hickok, age 28, was arrested after days of being on the run. Mr. Hickok removed his monitoring device and threw it out a car window near Waycross, Georgia. Mr. Hickok's criminal history includes a conviction on 11 counts of lewd and lascivious assault on a child under the age of 16 years old. You can read more about this story at Sexual Predator Arrested in Putnam County, Florida.

Another criminal has been put behind bars in Florida for possession of child pornography. Clifford Anderson Duncan, age 31, was recently sentenced to five years in federal prison. Mr. Duncan was also ordered to forfeit his computer and to register as a sex offender under Florida and federal laws upon release from prison. Mr. Duncan had numerous child pornography images and videos on his computer. Some materials showed sadistic treatment of children in the images. Investigators in Martin County and Duval County helped secure this conviction through Project Safe Childhood. You can read more about this story at Man Sentenced to Five Years for Possessing Child Pornography on his Computer.

Florida's hot summers can be very dangerous to children especially those children left in hot cars. In Jacksonville, Florida, a 1 year old (Bernard Davis) was under the care of a babysitter, Shantel Wilcher, who left Bernard Davis in a hot car for 2 hours or possibly longer. Once she realized that she left the boy in the car, she went to the car and brought Bernard into the house. Thereafter, she performed CPR and Fire Rescue was called. Police report that Ms. Wilcher and others may have provided false information regarding the investigation. According to news reports, Ms. Wilcher was operating a non-licensed day care center.

This tragic story illustrates the importances of standards and licensing for day care centers. While hyperthermia deaths also have happened with licensed day care operators, the lack of licensing shows a day care center's attempt to cut corners as to the licensing, staffing, facilities, and overall standards. Most day care centers have rules and procedures for travel outside the day care center and require a checklist and other quality assurance measures to prevent these type of incidents from taking place.

You can read more about this story at 1 Year Old Child Left in Truck Dies - Caregiver Charged.

Vacations and weekends are times for college students to have fun. Some college students equate having fun with drinking a lot of alcohol and doing drugs. Unfortunately, many college students suffer serious personal injuries and death every year due to excessive drinking and / or use of drugs. In Panama City, Florida, Justin Richard Delval, a student from Texas A & M, was found in a ditch in front of the Sterling Reef Condominium in March 2009. An autopsy report showed that Justin had a blood alcohol level of .45 which was almost 6 times the legal limit of .08. It is a tragedy that Justin died from basically drinking too much. You can read more about this story at College Student Died from Alcohol Poisoning.

In Florida and other states, possession and / or distribution of child pornography is a crime. Some criminal defendants/suspects are old. Some are young. It is a crime that can be committed by rich, poor, educated, professionals, blue collar, and all walks of life. In Waldo, Florida, 18 year old Travis Brinson Harper was arrested as a part of an investigation conducted by the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Those who break the law are often times unaware of the technology used by law enforcement to track illegal activity on the Internet. You can read more about this story at Waldo, Florida Teen Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography.