For the record, here are screenshots of the conversations confirming what I stated above.
Here is where Shane Ward mentions that he is also going through the same thing right now. Also where Solomon Wise mentions that he and Shane have nothing in common other than attending the same show (Repticon in Columbia, SC on November 3-4):
Here is where Shane described where Solomon's table was located and where the vendor was that he had traded with that was across from Solomon:
Here Solomon mentions that he doesn't remember a name or business name or logo, but that the guy was from Pennsylvania:
Here Solomon confirms that no one he has sold animals to has had any issues or illnesses, thus it was not in his by collection prior to the show:
Here another member of the South Carolina reptile community informs me of the third victim, Chrystal Kerr, and her post on the Upstate SC Sell/Trade group on Facebook:
I immediately sent a join request to the group which was approved on Friday the 29th, but when I searched for her post I found nothing. Tonight Brian explained that the post became an attack on her and massive fight with foul language, so the admins deleted it. I sent Chrystal a friend request but she has not approved me thus far.
Then tonight, I was contacted by Bonnie Hyatt, a former Repticon employee that states she too has lost several animals since this Columbia show. I am waiting on her to reply and answer questions on what species she has lost, if the symptoms are the same or if she has had any necropsies or testing done, etc:
So that makes 5 people with sick/dead animals after this Columbia, SC Repticon show. Solomon Wise, Shane Ward, Chrystal Kerr, Bonnie Hyatt, and an unnamed person put forth by Paul R. Moody that purchased ratsnakes at the show. I am trying to track down who these people purchased from, which vendors they came into contact with, where they themselves had tables set up at (if any), etc.
Also, and this may just be a coincidence, but in the very first screenshot I posted up above, Jason VanderWaal mentions that he lost his entire collection to this virus as well...and he happens to be married to the Repticon Mid-Atlantic Vendor Coordinator (Monica VanderWaal):
Again, that could just be coincidence, but was worth mentioning.
I looked at the vendor table assignment map as posted on the Repticon website for the November Columbia show. Solomon (Tomahawk Reptiles) was assigned to P 17-19, which was against the right wall by the bleachers as Shane mentioned. So if the vendor Shane traded with was across from Solomon, then according to the Repticon map, it was one of the following:
Robinette Reptiles -- C 11-13 & 16 -- From North Carolina
Full Spectrum Reptiles -- Entire D Section -- From Unknown Location (I found "Full Spectrum Pets" from Massachusetts on Facebook, and they sell ball python morphs among many things)
Simply Ill Exotics -- F 1 -- From Tennessee
MD Reptiles -- F 2-5 -- From North Carolina (There was also a vendor called MD Reptiles & Rescue that was in pictures of the show but not on the vendor list, and they are from Maryland)
HOWEVER: Tables C14 and C15 on Repticon's map have no vendor assigned anywhere on the list. So either they were empty, or they had a vendor that was not listed...and those tables happened to be directly across from Solomon as well.
I am currently sorting through more tidbits and various peoples' pictures of the show to see what I can figure out. I will keep updating this thread as this all unfolds.
