S4|E16: The Legend of Dean Ripa

Summary

Gone South: Episode S4|E16 – The Legend of Dean Ripa

Released January 29, 2025

Introduction

In the sixteenth episode of Gone South, host Jed Lipinski explores the enigmatic life of Dean Ripa, a Southern legend whose passion for reptiles and unconventional lifestyle left an indelible mark on those around him. Through the eyes of JB Beverly, a musician, music producer, and lifelong reptile enthusiast, listeners are taken on a journey that intertwines the thrill of snake hunting with profound insights into human nature and resilience.

Early Fascination with Reptiles

JB Beverly’s lifelong love affair with reptiles began in his early childhood. At [02:28], JB shares, “For me, I was about four or five years old, but I remember it like it was yesterday.” Inspired by his mother’s description of a snake as “one of the closest things to a dinosaur on planet Earth,” JB started keeping pythons and corn snakes during his teenage years, impressing friends with his ever-expanding terrarium collection.

Meeting Dean Ripa

In December 2014, while touring in Wilmington, North Carolina, JB visited the Cape Fear Serpentarium, an indoor reptile zoo renowned for its extensive collection of venomous snakes. It was here that he met Dean Ripa, the Serpentarium’s founder and a legendary figure in the snake world. JB recounts Dean’s captivating presence during a feeding show at [04:14]: “The snake would sway one way,” highlighting Dean’s almost balletic control over a 14-foot Malaysian king cobra. Dean’s charisma and unique life story immediately intrigued JB, laying the foundation for a deep and enduring friendship.

Building the Documentary

Inspired by Dean’s larger-than-life persona, JB proposed making a documentary about him. At [06:00], JB explains, “I got a couple of nice cameras, man. I got a couple of good lavalier mics and some lights.” Over the next two years, JB dedicated his time to filming Dean, capturing the essence of his adventurous spirit and intricate relationship with venomous snakes. This project not only documented Dean’s life but also deepened JB’s understanding of his mentor’s complex character.

Dean Ripa’s Life and Passions

Dean Ripa was a man of many talents and passions. Beyond his expertise with reptiles, Dean pursued classical painting with fervor. In the mid-70s, he dropped out of high school to study under the classical portraitist Pietro Annagoni in Italy. Despite personal challenges, including a tumultuous relationship with Annagoni’s partner, Dean excelled as an artist. His dedication led him to cross paths with the literary giant William Burroughs, forming a bond that JB describes as “Dean saw Burroughs as a kind of surrogate father figure” at [16:53].

Dean’s adventurous spirit extended beyond art. At 21, he joined the Peace Corps in Liberia, financing snake hunting expeditions across 35 countries. His life was perilous, marked by 14 venomous snake bites, including from deadly species like the Black-headed Bushmaster and the Fur De Lance. Despite these dangers, Dean thrived, showcasing his resilience and unwavering passion for reptiles.

The Cape Fear Serpentarium

In 2001, Dean founded the Cape Fear Serpentarium in Downtown Wilmington, a sprawling 10,000-square-foot facility housing over 100 snake species. JB describes the Serpentarium as “the most diverse snake exhibit in North America, if not the world” [19:59]. Dean’s daily routine involved feeding snakes and crocodiles in a circus-like atmosphere, often interacting with visitors in a manner that was both entertaining and educational. His ability to handle dangerous creatures with ease made the Serpentarium a local legend, further cementing Dean’s status as a Southern icon.

Tragic Conclusion

However, Dean’s life was not without turmoil. By early 2017, he was preparing to retire from active management of the Serpentarium to spend more time with his son, Arkin. Despite his accomplishments, Dean faced personal struggles, including marital strains with his wife, Regina, who suffered from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

On May 17, 2017, tragedy struck. Regina, amid a psychotic episode after discontinuing her medication, called 911 claiming that Dean and an intern were attacking her. As detailed at [27:05], Regina reported, “So my husband is attacking me here, ma'am.” The police arrived, لیکن بعد میں انہیں Dean اور Regina نے بات کی کہ Dean “has no intentions of harming his wife” [27:23]. Shortly after the officers left, Regina retrieved a loaded .380 pistol and fatally shot Dean five times, including three shots to the head, as their son Arkin witnessed the horrifying event [29:40].

Aftermath and Legacy

Regina was charged with first-degree murder but was subsequently found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state psychiatric facility [29:38]. Dean’s death was a profound loss to those who knew him, including JB, who delivered a heartfelt eulogy at Dean’s funeral. Reflecting on Dean’s legacy, JB stated, “Life reminds us all from time to time that tomorrow is not guaranteed to anybody and that we must follow our hearts with blinders on” [31:35], encapsulating the fearless and passionate spirit Dean embodied.

JB Beverly’s Continuing Journey

In the wake of Dean’s passing, JB continued his musical pursuits until the pandemic halted live performances. He then discovered a new passion for working with horses, applying the meticulous and patient techniques he learned from Dean in handling venomous snakes. JB now makes a living training and rehabilitating rescue horses, a testament to the enduring influence Dean had on his life [33:01].

Conclusion

"The Legend of Dean Ripa" is a compelling narrative that intertwines adventure, passion, and tragedy. Through JB Beverly’s detailed recounting, listeners gain a profound appreciation for Dean Ripa's remarkable life—a life marked by fearless pursuits, deep friendships, and an unwavering love for reptiles. Gone South masterfully captures the essence of Dean's legacy, offering a poignant exploration of what it means to live authentically and passionately.

Notable Quotes

• JB Beverly on Meeting Dean Ripa:

  • “Dean was the most captivating, most interesting guy I've ever fucking known in my life.” [08:19]

• Dean Ripa on William Burroughs:

  • “I had a great time with William Burroughs. I really loved the old man and he loved me like the son.” [16:48]

• JB Beverly during Dean’s Eulogy:

  • “What kind of man was crazy enough to walk to the beat of his own drum and be his own kind of guy, no matter what the cost? Dean Ripa.” [31:35]

Final Thoughts

In this episode, Gone South not only chronicles the life of a reptile enthusiast but also delves deep into themes of passion, resilience, and the human spirit. "The Legend of Dean Ripa" stands as a testament to the show's ability to uncover and narrate rich, multifaceted stories that resonate deeply with listeners.

For more compelling stories about Southern legends and the intricate tapestry of human experiences, subscribe to Gone South on your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Jed Lipinski]

Something happened when I turned 40. My whole life I tolerated winter pretty well. But now, once November arrives, I'm cold all day long and I'm willing to do or buy whatever I can to stay cozy for the ultimate cold weather necessities made from premium materials, you've got to check out Quince. With Quince, you can treat yourself to true quality at an affordable price. Something everyone needs in their closet. Quince's iconic Mongolian cashmere sweaters, which start at just $50. Their super soft fleece sweatpants are a major upgrade to whatever you're lounging in right now. And their wind resistant responsible down jackets are perfect for keeping warm no matter what you're looking for. All Quince Items are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. By partnering directly with top factories and cutting out the cost of the middleman, Quince passes the savings on to you. Quince only works with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices, and they use premium fabrics and finishes for that luxury feel in every piece. For the past few weeks, I've been wearing one of Quince's Mongolian cashmere sweaters and a cashmere beanie while I write this podcast. And I can honestly say that they're the most comfortable sweater and winter hat I've ever owned. Not only that, they they were each more than half the cost of what cashmere items normally cost. I'm officially a Quint's convert. Luxuriate in coziness without the luxury price tag. Go to quints.com gonesouth for 365 day returns plus free shipping on your order. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com gonesouth to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com gonesouth.

[J.B. Beverly]

I was always hang on, let me put this I became fascinated with reptiles as a small child. One thing that all reptile people, one thing that we've all got in common, is this fundamental arc in our story where we saw one of these animals as little children and became fascinated with and began to pursue on some level.

[Jed Lipinski]

This is J.B. beverly. He's a musician, music producer and horseman in North Carolina. He's also a lifelong reptile enthusiast, or what he calls a snake guy.

[J.B. Beverly]

For me, I was about four or five years old, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember where I was standing in my backyard, I saw this little bringneck snake scurrying around and I remember my mom saying, you know, that's one of the closest things to A dinosaur you're gonna see on planet Earth. It's like, I want a dinosaur. At some point, mom and dad, you can't have a dinosaur. Here's why. Okay, but I can have one of those.

[Jed Lipinski]

As a teenager, JB kept pythons and corn snakes in a terrarium in his room to impress his friends. He'd occasionally catch rattlesnakes and copperheads and tail them or secure them by the tail.

[J.B. Beverly]

Yeah, I take a twig, I switch off of a tree, I would pin their neck down and tail them and pick them up and, you know, hey, look, Billy, look, Betty, you know what I mean? And luckily, I never got bit.

[Jed Lipinski]

But JB always remained an amateur snake guy. Music was his profession. He'd spent the past 20 years touring the country with different bands, including a roots country outfit called the Wayward Drifters.

[J.B. Beverly]

Hey, bartender, before I go, why don't you pass me just one more?

[Jed Lipinski]

In December 2014, JB was passing through Wilmington, North Carolina on tour when he decided to visit the Cape Fear Serpentarium. The Serpentarium was a kind of indoor reptile zoo that housed one of the world's largest collections of venomous snakes, as well as giant boa constrictors, crocodiles, and, and exotic lizards. JB knew that the Serpentarium's founder, a man named Dean Ripa, was a legend in the snake world. But he didn't know much else about him.

[J.B. Beverly]

And walking in there, it's like, boom, he's doing this feeding show and he's got a 14 foot Malaysian king cobra that he's like gently taunting with food. And the snake is. It was like ballet man. It's like he would sway one way.

[Dean Ripa]

The snake would sway one way.

[J.B. Beverly]

And his command, his ability to run this feeding show with this almost P.T. barnum showmanship. You know, he would say things like, you know, right now that snake is injecting enough venom to kill, you know, four of you. And he would pause and he'd raise that eyebrow and stare at the crowd and go, but I'm not gonna say which four. I've never seen anything like that in my life.

[Jed Lipinski]

After the show, JB introduced himself. When Dean learned he was a musician, he told JB that he used to sing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, a famous big band ensemble that used to collaborate with Frank Sinatra. When JB expressed a little skepticism, Dean brought him upstairs to his apartment on the second floor of the Serpentarium and played him some recordings on his website.

[J.B. Beverly]

I mean, you know, just doing the Sinatra style crooning. And he was good, like Legit. Good.

[Jed Lipinski]

The two went out to dinner that night, and Dean unspooled a life story almost too wild to believe. How he'd sold his paintings to Salvador Dali. How he'd befriended legendary beat poet William Burroughs, and how he'd become the first person to breed the rare black headed bushmaster in captivity. JB was smitten. He asked Dean if he'd ever appeared in a documentary.

[J.B. Beverly]

He says, oh, you know, Animal Planet's been here and Discovery Channel and all this. He goes, well, they just want to see me get bit and die on camera.

[Jed Lipinski]

JB had never shot a documentary before, but having known Dean for just a few hours, he asked if he could make one about Dean's life.

[J.B. Beverly]

So I said, I got a couple of nice cameras, man. I got a couple of good lavalier mics and some lights. And I said, what if I came back here and just shot some basic footage of you get the shell of your story and we turn this into a film and I go after some investors. And he said, tell you what, he goes, if you're serious, I'll see you next weekend with your camera. Two weeks later, I'm at the Serpentarium with my rig, all my gear, following this guy around.

[Jed Lipinski]

JB would spend the next two years filming and interviewing Dean, learning more about his unconventional life and becoming one of Dean's closest friends. But he never got to finish his film. New Hanover County, 911. What is the address of the emergency?

[J.B. Beverly]

So my husband is attacking me here. Ma'am, what's your address?

[Jed Lipinski]

Where are you?

[J.B. Beverly]

20 Orange Street.

[Jed Lipinski]

Okay, that's.

[J.B. Beverly]

I have that as a serpentarium. Ma'am, where are you?

[Jed Lipinski]

What's the address? Yes, that's where we are. I'm Jed Lipinski, this is Gonsal. I first heard about Dean Ripa long before I ever met jb.

[Margo Gray]

So we all stand around, crocodile's there, he unlocks the door, door's unlocked, he gets his rabbit bucket.

[Jed Lipinski]

It was in a stand up routine by the comedian Nate Bargazzi.

[Margo Gray]

And he grabs a rabbit and he's gonna just open the door.

[Jed Lipinski]

This was back in 2015 on Comedy Central.

[Margo Gray]

He gets it right here. The crocodile sees the rabbit and comes forward, hitting the door, which is unlocked, and we learn, also broken, hits the door.

[Jed Lipinski]

Bergazzi does this whole bit about visiting the Serpentarium and seeing a 10 foot crocodile escape from its cage, sending the crowd into a panic.

[Margo Gray]

Everybody just starts losing it. It's like a Godzilla movie. People are just running, everybody's crying. People are crying real hard, like Just bawling.

[Jed Lipinski]

Bragazzi's routine gave the Serpentarium national exposure, but the place was already a fixture in the region. It's sort of surprising that when JB approached Dean, there hadn't already been a documentary about him.

[J.B. Beverly]

Cumberland Dose, Equis commercials. The most interesting man in the world, right? Yeah. That guy's got shit on Dean. Beef upro.

[Jed Lipinski]

He's got shit on Dean.

[J.B. Beverly]

Honest to God, man. I mean, Dean was the most captivating, most interesting guy I've ever fucking known in my life.

[Jed Lipinski]

JB abandoned his film in May of 2017, but the arc of it is still fresh in his mind. It began with Dean's first snake bite at the age of four. It was followed 10 years later by another snake bite from a venomous cottonmouth, this time, which nearly killed him. After that, Dean's dad donated his snake collection to a local roadside zoo.

[J.B. Beverly]

I mean, he just. He didn't stop. He went and rebuilt it right away. Right away.

[Jed Lipinski]

Not long after, one of Dean's cobras got loose in the attic, forcing the family to move out until the snake could be captured and shot. But snakes weren't Dean's only passion. In the mid-70s, he dropped out of high school to pursue a career as a painter. After discovering the work of the classical portraitist Pietro Annagoni in an art magazine, Dean wrote him a letter asking if he could study with him in Italy.

[J.B. Beverly]

From what he told me, Annagoni had no interest in taking on a student pupil. He had a live in boyfriend who was highly jealous of some handsome young man coming out there and setting up shop in their palace. Right.

[Jed Lipinski]

Dean persisted. He sent the master some of his canvases. Anagone saw potential. He took Dean on as an apprentice.

[J.B. Beverly]

And of course, this enraged Anagone's lover, who's like, you know, you're gonna leave me for this guy. And he said they were always fighting and there was always this, like, jealousy in the house. And he ended up kind of living removed in the guest house and trying not to stir the waters and all this. And then. But Anagone taught him and taught him well.

[Jed Lipinski]

Dean was devoted to classical painting, but he was equally inspired by the surrealists. During his stay in Italy, he learned that the artist Salvador Dali was staying with friends in a nearby villa.

[J.B. Beverly]

According to Dean, he scaled the back wall with a backpack full of canvases and walked over. And before they were able to get security to throw him out, he's like, I just wanted to share my artwork with you guys. Unraveled a couple of canvases. And because it was Dolly and his friends, they were like, don't throw this kid out. He's good. Let's see more of your. He told me I sold pretty much every painting in my backpack to Dolly's friends and gave one to Dolly as a token of my appreciation for not having his security guards cave my skull in.

[Jed Lipinski]

Basically, Dean's passion for painting slowly faded. He wasn't suited to spending 10 hours a day alone in a room. He turned his attention back to snakes. At 21, he joined the Peace Corps in the West African country of Liberia, primarily to finance a snake hunting expedition. Here's Dean talking about his decision to.

[Dean Ripa]

JB that was when I began hunting gaboon vipers and green mambas and forest cobras and generally learning how to live and survive in the tropics. And I got a great training. And one thing I got out of the Peace Corps, besides some snakes, was how to live on nothing. So then I went around the world many times, some 35 countries, living on perhaps practically nothing, hunting snakes and living with the natives and hire whole villages to catch snakes for me. And I'd bring them back to the States, sell them, take the money, and go back again. Do this repeatedly.

[Jed Lipinski]

The snake hunter lifestyle fed Dean's desire for travel and adventure, but it also created space for his other lifelong writing. According to J.B. dean's style of writing fell somewhere between the science fiction of Isaac Asimov and and the horror of H.P. lovecraft. But he also drew inspiration from William Burroughs, the godfather of the Beat Generation. Burroughs is known for his graphic, hallucinatory prose in books like Naked Lunch and Queer. He was also a lifelong heroin addict who in 1951, accidentally shot and killed his wife in Mexico while trying to shoot a glass off her head. Burroughs shared Dean's fascination with venomous creatures, particularly the gaboon viper. As he had with Anagone, Dean sought out Burroughs as a mentor. He sent him some samples of his writing and asked to meet him. When Burroughs brushed him off, Dean offered to send him a gaboon viper through Federal Express.

[J.B. Beverly]

Burroughs promptly writes back like, no gaboon viper. No, no, no, no. Hold that thought. Like you fine. If you really want to come out here, pitch a tent in the backyard. You can stay for a week. Don't send a fucking snake. So Dean does just that. But instead of pitching a tent in the backyard for a week, he pretty much was there off and on and was with the old man when he died.

[Margo Gray]

Start fresh in the new year as you set resolutions for 2024. Consider how learning a new language can enrich your life, whether through travel, career advancement, or cultural appreciation. Keeping in mind everything you've learned over the last year, it's time to build on that, and learning a new language can help you connect with others and explore new cultures. With that in mind, there's no better tool than Rosetta Stone, the most trusted language learning program available on desktop and mobile. Rosetta Stone immerses you in the language so you truly learn to think, speak, and understand it naturally. With Rosetta Stone's intuitive approach, there are no English translations, you're fully immersed, and the built in Truaxent feature acts like a personal accent coach, giving you real time feedback to make sure you sound just right. Don't put off learning that language. There's no better time than right now to get started. Start the new year off with a resolution you can reach today. Listeners can take advantage of this Rosetta Stone's lifetime membership for 50% off, visit RosettaStone.com RS10. That's 50% off unlimited access to 25 language courses for the rest of your Life. Redeem your 50% off at Roset today, college holds a mythic place in American culture. It's often considered the best four years of your life and hailed as a beacon of integrity and excellence. But beyond the polished campus tours, there are stories you won't find in the admissions pamphlets.

[Jed Lipinski]

The higher ups are concerned about one.

[J.B. Beverly]

Thing, and that is avoiding scandal.

[Margo Gray]

It's no wonder that college campuses capture the nation's attention, especially in moments of upheaval. I'm Margo Gray. Each week on the Campus Files podcast, we bring you a new story.

[Jed Lipinski]

It was the biggest academic scandal in the history of college sports and probably.

[Margo Gray]

In the history of academia. On Campus Files, we cover everything from rigged admissions to the drama of Greek life.

[Jed Lipinski]

A chancellor having a pornographic double life is an extremely rare case.

[Margo Gray]

Listen to and follow Campus Files, an Odyse original podcast available now on the free Odysee app and wherever you get your podcasts. This message comes from Greenlight Ready to start talking to your kids about financial literacy? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app that teaches kids and teens how to earn, save, spend wisely and invest with your guardrails in place. With Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores automate allowance, and keep an eye on your kids spending with real time notifications. Join millions of parents and kids building healthy financial habits together on Greenlight. Get started risk [e-mail] Odyssey.

[Jed Lipinski]

Dean's bond with William Burroughs was perhaps the defining friendship of his life. For 15 years before Burroughs death in 1997, Dean paid regular visits to him at his home in Lawrence, Kansas. The writer Wendy Brenner, who profiled Dean for Oxford American magazine in 2005, said the two exchanged guns and knives and occasionally hunted snakes together. Once, as a prank, Dean set a cobra loose in Burroughs living room. In his 1987 novel the Western Lands, Burroughs mentions Dean by name, saying he could have stepped from the pages of a Joseph Conrad novel. JB Told me that Dean saw Burroughs as a kind of surrogate father figure. He was at his bedside when Burroughs passed away from heart failure. As Dean told JB for his documentary.

[Dean Ripa]

I had a great time with William Burroughs. I really loved the old man and he loved me like the son.

[Jed Lipinski]

Burroughs death caused Dean to reflect on his own mortality. As he told JB it was a miracle he was still alive.

[Dean Ripa]

Oh, well, yes, there have been lots of hazards. I've had guns put to my head and threatened in the middle of the night in the jungle by gorillas and malaria three or four times. Dysentery, schistosomiasis.

[Jed Lipinski]

Then of course, there were the snake bites. By Dean's count, he'd been bitten by venomous snakes a total of 14 times. Seven of them were from the Bushmaster, which, if the wound goes untreated, kills 70% of the people it bites. He'd also been bitten by a fur de lance, a night adder and a stiletto snake. Once, deep in the jungle of Costa Rica's OSA Peninsula. He nearly died after getting bitten by a hognosed viper.

[Dean Ripa]

And I had to be carried out on a horse to the coast where I was unconscious from anaphylactic shock. Shortly after, they had to haul me out on a boat. But they could get me to a hospital. Was too far away and the seas were too dangerous. So I had to go through the whole bite in the jungle.

[J.B. Beverly]

Talk about trusting your environment.

[Dean Ripa]

Yeah, well, I don't know. In those days I was. I think I was a bit self destructive. I didn't sometimes care if I survived or not.

[J.B. Beverly]

What changed that?

[Dean Ripa]

I don't know. As I changed, I just got tired of being bitten.

[Margo Gray]

I just got tired of being the.

[Dean Ripa]

Pain that goes along with all this.

[Jed Lipinski]

After 20 years of constant travel, Dean was also tired of living out of a suitcase. He realized he could make more money breeding snakes than he could catching them in the wild. In the late 90s, Dean became the first person to successfully breed the Black headed bushmaster in captivity. At the same time, Dean began publishing his hard won field observations in scientific journals which earned him the respect of academic herpetologists or scientists who study reptiles and amphibians.

[Dean Ripa]

I ended up redescribing the genus of the bushmasters. Before my paper they were all considered one species. And after my paper they've been broken up into three species. And then I discovered yet a new one that had never been described and made the fourth.

[Jed Lipinski]

By the year 2000, Dean had amassed a truly astonishing collection of snakes from around the globe. He kept most of them in terrariums in his apartment, which may help explain why he'd burned through two marriages by his mid-40s. He needed somewhere else to put the snakes. So in 2001, Dean founded the Cape Fear Serpentarium in Downtown Wilmington. The two story 10,000 square foot space contained 100 different species of snakes, many of them deadly. Placards described how it feels to be bitten by a particular snake. For example, Dean wrote from his personal experience that the bite of a Central American fir de lance feels like having your hand slammed in a car door then burnt with a blowtorch. It was the most diverse snake exhibit in North America, if not the world.

[Dean Ripa]

Now being a very long snake, it can strike very far. A 12 foot long Bushmaster lying flat on the ground could strike you right in the face.

[Jed Lipinski]

Several times a day, Dean fed the snakes and crocodiles before a crowd of visitors.

[Dean Ripa]

The result would be the same. You would die.

[Jed Lipinski]

The feedings had a circus like quality with Dean playing the role of ringmaster.

[Dean Ripa]

Now these snakes have another irritating habit. This is one of the few snakes known to chase you.

[Jed Lipinski]

JB recorded Dean feeding a bushmaster for his documentary with the king cobra and the black mamba.

[Dean Ripa]

This is one of the three large deadly snakes occasionally implemented in unprovoked attacks. Will actually rush right after you for no apparent reason. When we open up this glass. You may see an example of that.

[Jed Lipinski]

In his stand up special. Comedian Nate Bergazzi had described seeing a 10 foot crocodile escape from its cage while Dean was feeding it. Apparently this wasn't unusual and may have been part of Dean's act. Justin Lanassa, a friend of Dean's who runs the Museum of the Bazaar in downtown Wilmington, describes seeing the same thing during a visit with his wife and infant daughter. Dean's doing his normal feeding show where.

[J.B. Beverly]

He has chicken necks and he's talking about how dangerous these crocodiles are and.

[Jed Lipinski]

How they're man eaters and da da da. And he holds up a Chicken neck to go throw it in.

[J.B. Beverly]

And the 13 foot crocodile jumps out of the cage and onto the floor amongst about 80 people. And this dude, like, grabbed the door.

[Jed Lipinski]

Like, panicking, trying to get out.

[J.B. Beverly]

Dean standing there calm and cool as.

[Jed Lipinski]

You could ever imagine.

[J.B. Beverly]

No panicking, nothing.

[Jed Lipinski]

And all of a sudden the crocodile.

[J.B. Beverly]

Gets back up and jumps back into the cage. Almost like it was scripted.

[Jed Lipinski]

And then the show went on. Dean didn't run the Serpentarium alone. He had a handful of interns, and his high school buddy Mike Parker ran the register. Dean's third wife, Regina, helped out too. Regina was a trained veterinarian from Sao Paulo. According to jb, she'd been present for several of Dean's snake bites and injected him with antivenom that saved his life. JB had limited interactions with Regina. She struck him as kind and sweet natured, if a bit tightly wound from what Dean told him. Regina had struggled with severe depression throughout her life. She'd spent time at a local psychiatric hospital known as the Oaks, but therapy and medication kept her stable. In his documentary, JB filmed Dean and Regina holding hands as they walked through a park outside Wilmington. They were a loving and affectionate couple, but they had their share of struggles. During visits he made to the Serpentarium in the months before Dean died, JB sensed they were going through a rough patch.

[J.B. Beverly]

So were we concerned that they might have to go to counseling to protect their marriage? Certainly. Were we worried that maybe there was divorce proceedings in the cards? Potentially. Sure. But nobody foresaw what happened coming. How could you?

[Margo Gray]

Where'd you get those shoes?

[Jed Lipinski]

Easy.

[Margo Gray]

They're from dsw. Because DSW has the exact right shoes for whatever you're into right now. You know, like the sneakers that make.

[Jed Lipinski]

Office hours feel like happy hour, the.

[Margo Gray]

Boots that turn grocery aisles into runways.

[Jed Lipinski]

And all the styles that show off.

[Margo Gray]

The many sides of you, from daydreamer to multitasker, and everything in between. Because you do it all in really great shoes. Find a shoe for every you at your DSW store or dsw dot com. Okay, let's take a poll. How weird does it feel to be called someone's fiance? Right. The first time you hear it, you do like a double take. Your heart kind of flutters, and before you know it, you go from let's just enjoy this moment to we're planning a fall wedding. That's where Zola comes in. Zola has everything you need to plan your wedding in one place and have fun along the way. From free planning tools like a budget tracker, super necessary and website to a venue and vendor discovery tool that matches you with your dream team. Everything on Zola is designed to make your wedding journey as easy as possible. And with invites that can be completely customized and a wedding registry packed with gifts you actually want, Zola takes you from Save our date to thanks so much without breaking a sweat from from getting engaged to getting married, Zola has everything you need to plan your wedding in one place. Start [e-mail] that's Z-O L A.com Happy Wedding.

[Jed Lipinski]

By early 2017, JB had been following Dean with his camera for more than two years. Whenever he got a break from touring or recording his own music, he'd make the two and a half hour drive from Halifax county to Wilmington and film Dean for a few hours. That spring, he noticed that Dean seemed uncharacteristically subdued. He was about to turn 60 and he'd grown a bit weary of managing the day to day operations of the Serpentarium. He was looking for a curator to manage the place for him, partly because he wanted to spend more time with his son. Regina and Dean's son Arkin was born in 2013. He was Dean's first child. In his conversations with JB, Dean said being a dad had changed his life and given him more satisfaction than anything he'd ever done.

[J.B. Beverly]

And this is a trick, not a trick question, but a tricky question. When it's all said and done and you have departed the earth, how would you like to be remembered?

[Dean Ripa]

Oh well, I don't know. As I'm so concerned about being, I'd like my son to remember me as a good father. I think that is what I would really, that would be my ultimate goal, is that my son remembers me as a good father.

[Jed Lipinski]

Dean and Regina doted on Arkin, but the two of them seemed to be growing apart. On one visit, JB realized Dean and his wife were sleeping in separate rooms. Dean didn't offer many details. His friends chalked it up to the stress of fatherhood and running a reptile museum. On May 17th of 2017, JB decided to visit the Serpentarium to do some filming. He was about half an hour away when Dean called his cell phone and.

[J.B. Beverly]

He had said, well jb, take your time. He said, you know, I'm trying to write, but I'm busy dealing with the cops. And I said, what are the cops doing there?

[Jed Lipinski]

As JB would later learn, Regina had gone off her medication and called 911 to report that Dean and one of his interns were conspiring to kill her.

[J.B. Beverly]

New Hanover County 911.

[Jed Lipinski]

What is the address of the emergency, sir?

[J.B. Beverly]

So my husband is attacking me here, ma'am.

[Jed Lipinski]

When Dean overheard Regina on the phone, he called 911 himself.

[J.B. Beverly]

New Hanover County 911. What's the address of your emergency?

[Dean Ripa]

20 Orange Street.

[Jed Lipinski]

He said his wife had schizophrenia, had stopped taking her medication and was having a psychotic episode.

[J.B. Beverly]

Okay, and tell me exactly what happened.

[Dean Ripa]

My wife is having an emotional breakdown. She's on the phone with somebody apparently on the other line at this moment. She is a paranoid schizophrenic. She's been in and out of the Oaks over there at the hospital she uses to take her medication. Now she's having an attack, and she's having a paranoid attack. She's convinced that I and the man who works here is attacking her.

[Jed Lipinski]

Dean assured the dispatcher he had no intentions of harming his wife. The police arrived moments later. According to the police reports, Dean and Regina spoke with the cops for about 15 minutes. Regina seemed in a state of panic and expressed a fear of drinking water and taking her medication. But the cops saw no cause for arrest or further intervention, and they left. Not long after that, JB pulled into the Serpentarium's parking lot.

[J.B. Beverly]

I remember I just parked and I was coming inside and, you know, I just. I didn't. It was like a bad dream, man. There's cops everywhere.

[Jed Lipinski]

JB saw Dean's assistant, Mike run up the stairs of the Serpentarium. Moments later, Mike walked back out the front door.

[J.B. Beverly]

Mike came back around the corner as white as a tombstone. He just shook his head. He said, he's gone. And I went into shock and forgive me. Hold on a second. This never gets easier. What I do know is that the cops had left. Dean had essentially told Regina so many words. You are going to the doctor Monday. I'm not going to risk our child being around a person that's unstable, that's hallucinating, etc. And I think that she snapped.

[Jed Lipinski]

Dean kept several firearms in their apartment above the Serpentarium. After the police left, Regina retrieved a loaded.380 pistol, walked into Dean's office and shot him five times, including three in the head. Their son was in the room when it happened.

[J.B. Beverly]

And she snatched up Arkin, and they raced out the back door and were apprehended outside the alleyway adjacent to the Serpentarium. She's got no recollection of having done it. She was the only other person in the room with him. And in fact, the next time that I physically saw Arkin days later, he looked at me and he said, mommy hurt Daddy, and Daddy's not coming back.

[Jed Lipinski]

Regina was charged with first degree murder. Only then did JB Learn the full extent of her mental health history, which included diagnoses of schizophrenia and bipolar. An investigation revealed that Regina had suffered psychotic episodes in the past after going off her medication, and she'd stopped taking it again a few months before Dean's death. After her arrest, Regina was evaluated by a forensic psychologist. He found that at the time of the murder, Regina was delusional and unable to recognize the criminal nature of what she'd done. She was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state psychiatric facility for indefinite treatment. JB Delivered a eulogy at Dean's funeral. He talked about how, after just a few hours in Dean's presence, JB had been inspired to make a documentary about him. He mentioned how much being a father had meant to Dean. He also brought up Dean's last near fatal snakebite from a king cobra. This time just a few months before he died. Rather than kill it or sell it, Dean told JB that he intended to fly the snake back to its native habitat and let it go. JB had seen this as a fitting end to their movie. He'd planned to be there to film it. Instead, he'd wound up delivering Dean's eulogy. Here's JB Reading its final lines.

[J.B. Beverly]

Life reminds us all from time to time that tomorrow is not guaranteed to anybody and that we must follow our hearts with blinders on. In all my years and all my travels, in all my friendships, I have never known a man who was a greater epitome of that understanding. I mean, they stopped making guys like this in the 17th century, right? What kind of man can take his childhood passions and accomplish something with all of them? What kind of man could live his life so fearlessly? What kind of man was crazy enough to walk to the beat of his own drum and be his own kind of guy, no matter what the cost? Dean Reaper.

[Jed Lipinski]

After Dean's death, JB Continued touring with his band until the pandemic brought live music to a halt. He was living in a rural part of North Carolina at the time, and for extra money, he began working with horses on a local cattle ranch. To his surprise, JB Found he had an aptitude for it. It reminded him of what he'd learned from Dean about working with venomous snakes.

[J.B. Beverly]

Where it's like, okay, man. Slow and deliberate movements. Don't be spooked. Don't let your pulse get up. And most importantly, if your mind is on something else, let him wait.

[Jed Lipinski]

Today, JB makes his living training and rehabilitating rescue horses.

[J.B. Beverly]

I took what Dean taught me about working with reptiles and I parlayed that into horsemanship. And I wish he was alive to see it.

[Jed Lipinski]

If you have information, story tips or feedback you'd like to share with the Gone south team, please email [e-mail] that's gonesouthpodcastmail.com and for bonus content you can follow us on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram @ Gone south podcast. You can also sign up for our newsletter on substack. Gone south with Jed Lipinski Gone south is an Odyssey original podcast. It's created, written and narrated by me, Jed Lipinski. Our executive producers are Jenna Weiss Berman, Maddy Sprung Kaiser, Tom Lipinski, Lloyd Lockridge, and me. Our story editors are Tom Lipinski, Maddy Sprunkheiser and Joel Lovell. Gone south is edited by Chris Basel and Perry Crowell. It's mixed and mastered by Chris Basel. Production support from Ian Mont and Sean Cherry. Special thanks to J.D. crowley, Leah Reese, Dennis, Maura Curran, Josephina Francis, Kurt Courtney and Hilary Shof.

[Margo Gray]

Every week on the Moff podcast we share stories that are funny, strange, heartbreaking and above all, true. I myself have been married for 56.

[J.B. Beverly]

Years.

[Jed Lipinski]

Unfortunately to Frank.

[J.B. Beverly]

Four different women you can work out a whole lot of in the aisles of Target.

[Margo Gray]

Follow and listen to the Moth on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.