Escaped king cobra captured behind woman's dryer

Venomous 8-foot snake found in Ocoee garage

ORLANDO, Fla. – A venomous king cobra that escaped from its Orlando home more than a month ago was found and captured late Wednesday night behind a dryer inside a woman's garage.

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The 8-foot snake was found at a home in the 5000 block of Sawdust Circle in Ocoee, about a quarter-mile from where it was reported missing in early September by its owner, Mike Kennedy, who lives near North Apopka Vineland Road, just south of Clarcona Ocoee Road.

Officials said the woman was putting clothes in her dryer when she heard a hissing sound and discovered the snake.  She called Animal Control, which retrieved the king cobra, named Elvis, and returned it to Kennedy.

"She didn't know exactly what kind of snake it was," said Billy Ledford, of Animal Control.  "All she knew was that it was a very large snake.  It was hissing underneath the dryer."

Ledford said the snake put up a fight before being caught.

An escaped king cobra is caught in Ocoee.

"I did notice when I was there it was acting aggressive and, of course, was hissing," Ledford said.

No one was injured.

A microchip inside the snake confirmed it was the missing cobra.

Kennedy's wife, Valerie Kennedy, said she was happy to have Elvis back home.

"We're thankful," Valerie Kennedy said.  "We're thankful for law enforcement and what everyone's done for us."

Mike Kennedy, a cast member of the Discovery Channel's "Airplane Repo," was in court Wednesday, accused of waiting more than two days before reporting the escape of the snake to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. He is seeking a jury trial.

Students at a nearby elementary school weren't allowed outside for recess during the early days of the search.

The FWC stopped actively searching for the missing king cobra weeks after the snake's escape.