Moving into a new place often comes with surprises. But in Rhode Island, one resident got far more than she bargained for. What started as a routine late-night craving quickly escalated into an alarming encounter that no one would expect in their own kitchen.
At 2 a.m., Nicole Jones, who had just settled into her East Providence apartment on Mauran Avenue, tiptoed toward her refrigerator. Half-asleep and expecting only leftovers, she froze. On the floor beside her fridge, coiled and quietly observing was a living snake. Not a garden variety. Not something harmless, but an actual three-foot ball python.
Image Source: WPRI News/YouTube
Initially, Jones questioned her own eyes in the dim light. Shadows can play tricks, and the mind races to rational explanations. But the movement was unmistakable. Alarmed, she slowly retreated. Closed the refrigerator door and called the East Providence, Rhode Island, police.
A Hidden Houseguest
When officers arrived, they likely anticipated an overreaction. Calls about snakes are often mundane. A harmless garden snake or an escaped lizard. Yet, this situation was far from ordinary. The officers found a docile, well-cared-for ball python resting silently near the fridge. Animal Control was summoned, and the snake was safely removed, according to WPRI News.
Investigators quickly uncovered the truth: the snake had belonged to the previous tenant and had been missing for months. Somehow, the reptile had survived undetected. Likely hiding behind appliances or inside vents, venturing out only under the cover of night. Its midnight appearance coincided precisely with Jones’ snack run. Creating a scene straight out of a nightmare for unsuspecting renters.
She never knew that a lost pet snake was on the loose in the apartment. She quipped, “‘There might be a python somewhere around here,’ is something you should mention if you decide to leave an apartment after your snake escapes.”
Ball pythons are not native to Rhode Island, and releasing them outdoors is illegal due to the cold climate. Fortunately, this one had remained safely indoors. But the encounter was enough to unsettle anyone.
Interesting twist. Despite the initial shock, Jones developed an unexpected fondness for her nocturnal visitor. Calm and gentle, the python quickly grew on her. Even inspired to consider a pet for her son’s birthday. Although the previous tenant eventually reclaimed the snake, Jones’ encounter served as both a warning and a story of an unusual connection in apartment rentals.
Image Source: WPRI News/YouTube
This incident is a warning. Even in the seemingly safe confines of your own home, the unexpected can lurk in the shadows. Moving into a new apartment? Double-check behind your appliances. Maybe keep a flashlight handy during late-night snack runs. In Rhode Island and beyond, hidden surprises aren’t just possible. They’re sometimes living, breathing, and three feet long.
Kenna Raye 
Hunter Spears 
Emma Taylor 
