My thought/question is, how do they know it was intentionally released? I mean let’s face it many of us have had the unpleasant experience of a snake or 2 getting out over the years. and a large python? 5ft is large? Most if not all of the stories you read about come from people who are fear snakes. They will write a story that promots that fear and shows snakes and their keepers in a negative light because that is what the readers want.
They dont want to hear about nor care about how we enjoy them as pets and that they are as tame as any other animal.