Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Snake in a Crib, Part 2: The Lawsuit!
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 11, 2008
Modified Jun 11, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 11, 2008
Modified Jun 11, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Images of the California king snake, now in Islip animal shelter custody, from WNBC
The family who found a California King snake wrapped around a 7-month-old baby's leg on Monday has decided to sue the mattress manufacturer and store where the mattress was purchased.
Baby Isabella and her mother Cari Abatemarco had been visiting her grandparents' home in Brentwood, on Long Island, and grandfather John Abatemarco said, "No grandfather wants to come home to find a snake wrapped around [his granddaughter's] leg." And her uncle Charlie described the scene, "I heard screaming and I came running into the room. The snake dropped off her leg into crib. I grabbed a back scratcher to capture it, not knowing if it was venomous." (It wasn't.)
Now the family will sue Toys R Us and mattress maker Sealy, claiming the mattress wasn't properly packaged when it was sold. While some suspect the snake, which is not indigenous to Long Island, may have been someone's pet that got loose and then slithered into the Abatemarco house to beat the heat, their lawyer said, "Either the heat from the baby drew the snake out of the mattress or just the snake migrated out on its own looking for a meal."
As for the mattress, it's been returned--and it's unclear what Toys R Us will be doing with it! And here's some other good bedding advice: Never bring home used or discarded mattresses, box frames, springs, etc., because they might be infested with bedbugs.
Tagged
baby
crib
islip
lawsuit
long island
snake
snake and baby
snake in baby
Toys R Us
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Jersey City mayor shakes up staff amid $255M budget gap
The city’s finance director, deputy mayor for housing, and several other senior officials resigned.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 8, 2026 at 2:40 p.m. ET
Bronx residents will be exempt from new Medicaid work rule, state officials say
High unemployment entitles borough residents to a waiver from the new requirement, officials said.
By
Caroline Lewis
News
Bronx residents will be exempt from new Medicaid work rule, state officials say
High unemployment entitles borough residents to a waiver from the new requirement, officials said.
By
Caroline Lewis
MTA chair accuses Andy Byford, who's leading Penn Station rebuild, of going 'full MAGA'
By
Stephen Nessen
and
Carol Chen
NYC parents want affordable childcare. But they don't all want the same thing.
By
Karen Yi
NY gov race pits old immigration playbook against new outrage over data centers
By
Jimmy Vielkind
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .