When Snakes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Snakes

Two Colorado men are in custody after plotting to kill another man over a $60,000 debt. All of that isn't really unusual, things like that happen all the time. The method the two men had worked out to do in the debtor, however, is a bit unusual.

Snakes in a box.

Herbert Paul Beck, 56, was arrested Thursday in Raton, N.M., and Christopher Lee Steelman, 34, was arrested Wednesday in Lakewood.

Bail for each suspect was set at $500,000 on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and extortion.

Investigators said Steelman told them the two men discussed ways to kill Sowash and Beck suggested rattlesnakes. Beck allegedly told investigators he invested $36,000 in the company last December, and with interest was due $60,000.

The plan was to build a wooden box to hold the snakes and "the lid was to be built to allow Sowash's legs to be put inside but not pulled out."

"The final and most disturbing method to Steelman was Beck wanting to kidnap Sowash's children and use them as leverage to get the money from Sowash," according to the affidavits.

The article does not say if the snakes were in on the plot, but we're pretty sure they were. They'd cooperate just to get the victim's shoes.