Now why in heaven’s name would someone keep a python. That’s just stupid. And to have it around with little kids. Maybe it should have wrapped itself around the owners pea brain... STUPID! The parents should be tried in a court of law for being so stupid. I really hope they don’t have other kids.
As long as you take proper care of it they aren't paticularly dangerous. Unfortunately, few people move past "snakes are cool" to "I'd better know how to take care of it." They tend to use cages that are insufficiently secured, and tend to feed the snake too infrequently. My nephew has one and he's ultra-conscientious about it.
And, of course, it's incredibly stupid to keep one while there are small children or small pets in the house. These things aren't like dogs, they don't make distinctions among species, much less particular people. All they do is size up animals as prey or threats. The article says that there was no lock on the cage, BTW.
My husband had a python when he was a teenager. His sister wore the snake as a belt.