Man from Florence bitten by poisonous snake slowly recovers

FLORENCE, SC (WPDE) — Jeffery Leibowitz, 58, is slowly improving after being bitten by one of his 14 pet snakes last Friday in his West Marion apartment on Harrell Street in Florence, according to Florence Police Capt. Stephen Starling.

Leibowitz has been in the hospital since the incident last Friday morning.

A post shared on Leibowitz’s Facebook page on Tuesday morning read “#NotDeadYet.”

ABC15 has obtained a police report about the incident.

According to the report, Leibowitz was bitten by an island taipan.

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Several online publications list the island taipan as one of the most venomous snakes in the world.

The officers found the following species of snakes:

• A Green Mamba
• Two Gaboon vipers
• A lance tip
• A death adder
• An Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
• Two Black Forest Cobras
• Two adult rattlesnakes (species unknown)
• One Island Taipan
• Two neotropical rattlesnakes
• A small rattlesnake (species unknown)

According to the Australian Museum, the island taipan is “often referred to as the most venomous snake in the world,” but it is far from the most dangerous.

According to Florence police, all snakes were humanely euthanized.

The police report states that the containers used to house the snakes were plastic containers that “did not meet acceptable standards and were not adequately secured, posing a significant risk to public safety.”

Two of the cages containing the snakes had “holes of sufficient size at the top through which the caged animals could escape,” the report said.

The report further states that due to a previous island taipan snakebite in recent months, antivenom is in short supply and any other people bitten by the snake have a reduced chance of survival, posing an increased risk to public health.

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Officials noted that due to the animals’ condition and their unknown health or disease status, it was unlikely that a zoo or reptile sanctuary would accept them.

However, officials attempted to contact several zoos and reptile sanctuaries, including River Banks Zoo, Alligator Adventure, Reptile Lagoon, Edisto Island Serpentarium and South of the Border, but none were willing to accept the animals as owners because the animals could pose a safety risk to staff and other animals.

The incident report states that a wildlife officer with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) recommended humanely euthanizing the snakes and placing them in subzero temperatures because of the public safety risk and the residence’s proximity to a densely populated area.

All snakes were confiscated and taken into police custody. The enclosures were sufficiently cordoned off to prevent any danger to the public, police said.

Officials said the victim’s family was allowed to humanely euthanize the snakes.

The incident was recorded on a body-worn camera and a copy of the release was signed by the victim’s father.

Additionally, two cats were seized from the home and taken to the Florence Area Humane Society.