Brian West had an intense love of snakes, one that may have led to his death 19 years ago.
On Friday, Animal Planet’s “Fatal Attractions” will delve into West’s life, from childhood to his death, to find out what may have inspired his fascination with the reptiles.
The series’ fifth episode — “Venom: Life or Death?” — will tell the story of West, 25, who kept hundreds of snakes in his Emmitsburg home before being bitten by a pet cobra in May 1992.
This fall, West’s widow, Stephanie Brennan, fought Oxford Scientific Films, Animal Planet’s contract company, to halt the show’s production.
Brennan said last month that she opposed the show because she doesn’t want to relive her husband’s death almost 20 years later. She said she was not contacted by the production company or West’s family and friends, many of whom were interviewed for the episode.
“I don’t want people to think I was a traitor to my husband,” Brennan said.
Larry West, Brian’s father, said last month that he hopes the program will be a positive, educational story about his son, rather than a sensational anecdote.
The 30-minute segment is set to air at 9 p.m. Friday on Animal Planet.
— Stephanie Mlot
