Pastor dies after snake he was handling bit him

Kentucky Pastor Jamie Coots died Saturday night after he was bitten by a snake, according to Middlesboro Police Chief Jeff Sharpe.Coots starred on "Snake Salvation" alongside Pastor Andrew Hamblin, from LaFollette, who was recently in court for TWRA citations for snake-handling.


 The National Geographic show profiled the Pentecostal, serpent handling preachers.Chief Sharpe said Coots was found dead in his home at about 10 p.m. Saturday after a snake allegedly bit Coots while he was handling the animal in his Middlesboro church, Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name.Sharpe said Coots went home before emergency workers got to the church.

 Officials then went to his house and urged Coots to get medical care, but he refused. About an hour later they said he died.A little more than a week from today would have marked exactly a year since Coots pleaded guilty to violating Tennessee's exotic animals law. As part of a plea deal, Coots surrendered his vipers.