Colorado man died from pet Gila monster’s venomous bite, autopsy shows

GOLDEN, Colo. — A Colorado man who was placed on life support after he was bitten by his pet Gila monster died of complications from the desert lizard’s venom, an autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press on Friday confirmed. Ward, 34, was taken to a hospital shortly after being bitten by one of his two pet Gila monsters on Feb. 12. Ward’s girlfriend handed over the lizard named Winston and another named Potato to an animal control officer and other officers in the Denver suburb of Lakewood the day after the bite. She told police she had heard something that “didn’t sound right” and entered a room to see Winston latched onto Ward’s hand, according to the animal control officer’s report.