Fort Worth Star-TelegramFort Worth Star-Telegram

A venomous West African banded cobra was kept in a homemade cage by her owner before she escaped last summer, according to an affidavit.

The cage had no locks and was made of wood and plexiglass.

The affidavit was obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Monday.

Her owner is facing a charge.

Lawrence Thomas Matl III was arrested on Feb 11.

Matl was charged with a violation of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The West African banded cobra was not found as of Monday.

These additional details were provided in the affidavit.

Matl told police that he bought the cobras about two weeks before the escape.

This is a photograph of a West African banded cobra similar to one that went missing in a Grand Prairie residential neighborhood. The owner has been arrested in the case, Grand Prairie police said..
This is a photograph of a West African banded cobra similar to one that went missing in a Grand Prairie residential neighborhood. The owner has been arrested in the case, Grand Prairie police said..

He made a homemade enclosure with no locks on it.

The female cobra was gone when he left the room for about 15 minutes.

Matl told authorities he knows he closed the cage after he noticed it was open.

The man from Grand Prairie told authorities that the snakes are smart and that he had had a snake escape before.

Matl told authorities that he had a pit viper in his house.

The city of Grand Prairie does not allow residents to own wildlife in the city.

The homemade cage wasn't enough for a venomous snake according to an expert on wildlife removal.

The state charge against Matl states that a person may not allow the release from a captivity of a venomous snake.

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