Florida's Missing King Cobra Found

An 8-foot-king cobra that has been on the loose in Florida for more than a month has been recovered safe and sound.

The snake was discovered hiding under a dryer that was inside the garage of an Ocoee home about a half-mile from where it went missing in early September. The snake’s disappearance created panic in Orange County where residents were afraid to come out of their homes and one local school canceled outdoor activities.

The disappearance has also led to misdemeanor criminal charges for the snake’s owner, Mike Kennedy, the star of Discovery Channel’s “Airplane Repo.” Kennedy submitted court papers earlier this week requesting a jury trial in the case that centers on the state’s contention that he waited 24 hours to report the beast missing.

The state of Florida contends that Kennedy returned home from a weekend away to discover his snake missing. Rather than report it immediately, Kennedy is accused of taking 24 hours to search for the venomous creature on his own. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission filed a misdemeanor charge against him for that alleged failure to report. The charge also comes with a $366 fine.

See Also:

• Escaped King Cobra’s Owner Wants Jury Trial
• Deadly 8-Foot King Cobra On the Loose in Florida
• Escaped King Cobra Earns Instagram Fame
• Charges for TV Star Whose Cobra Slithered Away

King cobras are not native to Florida. Considered among the most venomous snakes on the planet, the creatures can reach up to 18 feet in length, according to National Geographic. While their venom isn’t considered the most potent, “the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite – up to two-tenths of a fluid ounce – is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant,” National Geographic’s website states. The carnivores are primarily found in China, India and Southeast Asia.

A trial date has not yet been set in Kennedy’s case, according to Orange County court records.

Photo screenshot from NDN video/Channel 9