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Open since 1995, Reptile Ocean used to be a small zoo before it shifted its operations purely to retail and incorporated the property’s upstairs animal enclosures into an apartment for Mr. Savoie.

The snake occupied one enclosure, while the other two were used for crocodiles.

“How he got loose, I don’t know, because ever since Jean-Claude got full custody of his child, every cage had two locks on it, and one of them was a master lock and the keys to that were hung up in the laundry room,” said Mr. Thomas.

“Jean-Claude loved them kids and he would have never, ever put them in danger at all,” he added.

Global News reached Mr. Savoie by phone on Monday. In a five-minute interview posted to the network’s website he explained that the “vicious” snake, which was rarely handled, escaped through a ventilation system and fell through the ceiling of the children’s room.

Still in shock, he said he was baffled how the snake could have made its way through such a narrow pipe and said he discovered the children dead on Monday morning when he woke up to check on them.

“They were sleeping; they didn’t even open their eyes or nothing,” he said.

New Brunswick RCMP reported that they were called to the store’s Pleasant St. address just after 6:30 a.m. on Monday. The snake “is in RCMP possession,” according to a Monday statement by police.

Police did not confirm the names of the two children and said they have not determined whether any charges will be laid in connection with the deaths. ”That’s going to be part of the investigation,” said Cst. Jullie Rogers-Marsh with the New Brunswick RCMP.