FWC Snake Slaughter

Hi! My name is Caitlyn Coffee and I'm here to fundraise for Chris Coffee and Bill McAdam regarding the emotional damages of what they have lost in what is now known as the "Holy Thursday Massacre".

On Thursday, April 6, 2023, 34 of my dad's Reticulated and Burmese Pythons, along with his partner's pregnant Boa Constrictor, were killed by 4 FWC Officers using a "captive bolt" device. This all started a year ago when the FWC gave my dad 90 days to liquidate 150 snakes that had just been outlawed in the state of Florida. He managed to rehome all but 34 of them, but knowing that he was running out of time to do so, he contacted the FWC looking for either more time or other options because he could not sell or keep them and his license was about to expire since they refused to renew it. The FWC responded to this by explaining to him that he could fill out a form on their website to have his snakes "grandfathered in". In addition to this, on February 25, 2021, Chairman Rodney Barreto of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated: "I want to make sure the public's aware that if you currently own one of these reptiles, you're allowed to keep it until its death. So no one's telling you [that] you have to go get rid of your pet or euthanize it. No one, from the state, is gonna take it away from you. So I think there's some misinformation out there, and I just want to clarify for the people listening." This was followed by the former Vice Chairman, Mike Sole, stating: "Their pets are their pets, they will continue to be their pets. We made sure that it was very clear and it's unfortunate that misinformation was allowed to penetrate out there that it was otherwise because it gets people emotional, and that gives me pause." Hearing these things gave my dad the reassurance that he so desperately was needing during that time. After filling out the paperwork, an officer with the FWC was sent out to the facility, telling my dad that this would be a routine inspection to allow for the grandfathering to take place. All of his animals were documented and accounted for, so it seemed as if all went well. Instead, he was arrested and charged with the possession of Reticulated and Burmese Pythons, all of which he possessed legally years before any of this had taken place. At this time he was instructed to sign a property receipt indicating that his snakes were now the FWC's property, but he must still feed, clean, and maintain the snakes as if none of this ever happened because if he were to move any, he would be arrested again but charged with felonies this time. After going through the court system and fighting as hard as he could, all charges were dismissed in February 2023. For 1 year and 2 months, my dad's pets sat in his facility, until Officer Lex from the FWC called him. Unfortunately, my dad missed the call but was sure to listen to a message Officer Lex left in his voicemail. He explained that he had a task for the FWC from Tallahassee. My dad was able to quickly give him a call back not knowing that Officer Lex had already been parked outside of his facility. The day before these events, a snake had gotten loose out of captivity in the surrounding area. This was the excuse used to raise the concern of my dad's snakes to the FWC, even though all of his snakes were microchipped and all they had to do was use a special device to identify that microchip. During the phone call my dad asked Officer Lex what would happen if he didn't let him inside his facility. Officer Lex explained that he would have to arrest him. My dad then asked him what would happen if the snakes already passed and they were just kept frozen in a cooler? Officer Lex explained that he would have to arrest him for inhumanely euthanizing his animals. At this point, my dad was backed into a corner and left with no other choice but to let him inside the facility. It came down to Officer Lex telling my dad that he had the most humane way of euthanizing his pets and by allowing him to do this, the FWC would never harass him again because this would all be over right then and there. My dad was under the impression that they would be euthanizing his snakes just as if a veterinarian would give a dog or cat an injectable shot to put them to sleep without suffrage. This is the only reason that he agreed for this to take place. He was instructed once again, this being the second time, to sign a property receipt. This would mean that he would be relinquishing his rights to the snakes once again, the snakes were now the FWC's property just like before. My dad was told to remove one of his snakes from the cage and, while still handling it, place it on the floor so that its head could be fully accessible. Without warning, Officer Lex grabbed the "captive bolt" device and immediately shot this snake in the head with my dad's hands right there, doing so in front of his face. Instantly my dad was sent into shock and told Officer Lex that he could not and would not be doing this to his pets and that he wanted the process to end. He was told that it was too late, the paperwork was already signed and he no longer had any right to advocate for these animals. My dad just could not take it anymore. Although he did not leave the facility, he left the room but informed the officer that he would be leaving his phone on and recording in the room during the process while he could not bear to be in the same room. For a portion of the 4 hours this process took, his phone was knocked over and what he was videoing stopped. When my dad was able to realize this, he reentered the room and told Officer Lex that "When I left before it shut off, I'm having a really hard time with this". I was able to capture this part at the beginning of the new video that my dad started. You can tell when he has left the room again because Officer Lex starts using his eyes to point out to whoever is standing out of the frame, that my dad was now recording again (this part of the video has not been shared with others at this time). The video goes on for quite some time before they reach the enclosure of Bill McAdam's pregnant Boa Constrictor, Big Shirl. Both Bill and my dad agreed before any of this situation took place that it would be a good idea to have her in that enclosure because she was pushing against, and injuring her face on the sides of the previous enclosure. My dad reminded all of the officers multiple times periodically, even as other officers arrived, that Big Shirl was not to be touched. They even took the time to confirm that she was indeed a Boa Constrictor and promised him that she would not be touched, as Boa Constrictors are legal to possess in the state of Florida. Carelessly, Big Shirl was eventually ripped out of the enclosure by Officer Lex, who even referred to her as "him". She was wrongfully, and illegally, slaughtered using the "captive bolt" device. Before this happens, one of the officers notices her identification tag on the outside of the enclosure, pauses for a moment with hesitation but then continues to keep quiet as this takes place and ONLY speaks up after his superior, Officer Lex, realizes what they had just done.

For those of you who have viewed this video and have begun to raise concerns as to why Big Shirl's babies could not be saved, this is because the officers decided to move her into a corner far enough away so that she could be out of sight just in case my dad should come around the corner again. It wasn't until they had finally completed their 4-hour massacre that they decided to break the news to my dad. Big Shirl had laid helpless in that corner for over 20 minutes, still moving for the majority of this time. For over 20 minutes Big Shirl's babies struggled and suffered because the officers knew that if they told my dad what had happened immediately following what they had done, they would have never been able to complete their massacre mission.

The FWC must be held accountable for their cruel, ruthless, unjustifiable, and careless actions. Help us fight to make a change. All funds will be donated to Chris Coffee and Bill McAdam to help compensate for everything they have lost. These are lives that we cannot bring back. These actions committed by the FWC are irreversible, but they for sure destroyed both Chris's and Bill's lives while also costing many animals' beloved lives. By donating, these funds will also help us with attorney fees in order to hold the state accountable for these acts. We sincerely appreciate all of the love and support given thus far.