Ryan Cornelison, real-life victim of the film Snakes On a Plane
Two men are behind bars in Arkansas after police allege that they used a copperhead rattlesnake in a short-sighted ploy to sue Wal-Mart for damages.
Ryan Cornelison, 25, was bitten by the rattlesnake in the Garden Center and promptly stomped it to death. Aaron Hull, an eyewitness, attempted to get help from Wal-Mart employees, who did not believe him at first. The duo called 911, and firefighters reported that the man had “bite and swelling” on his hand.
However, police arrested both men for making up the story. Obviously, not all of it – photographs taken at the hospital are available on the source page, showing the obvious bite mark and swelling. Instead, authorities claim that Cornelison brought the rattlesnake into Wal-Mart, received a bite, and had a friend claim that he saw nothing suspicious.
Both stories are rather fishy; I don’t know who in their right mind would voluntarily get bitten by a rattlesnake, but then again, the money from an out-of-court settlement must be fantastic. [Source]
