Michael Schmidt|Texas inmate Trent Thompson climbs over fence to escape jail, captured about 250 miles away

2025-05-02 16:04:28source:AstraTradecategory:Scams

A 22-year-old Texas inmate climbed over a fence and Michael Schmidtwas on the lam for several hours over the weekend before he was captured, officials said. Trent Thompson was apprehended about 250 miles away from the state jail where he was serving a lengthy sentence.

Before his escape, Thompson was last seen at around 11:14 Saturday night at the Formby State Jail in Plainview, Texas, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said in a statement on social media.

Authorities believe Thompson climbed over a fence and stole a vehicle, Amanda Hernandez, a spokeswoman for the department, told the Associated Press.

Officials released photos of Thompson and urged people to not approach him if they spotted him. Thompson was captured in Coleman, Texas, about 250 miles southeast of Plainview, at around 11:15 Sunday morning, the Department of Criminal Justice said.

Trent Thompson is seen in a photo provided by the  Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Thompson will face felony escape charges, according to the department.

He had already been serving a lengthy sentence for aggravated robbery and aggravated assault on a public servant, with a parole eligibility date in 2037 and a projected release date in 2052, according to online inmate records.

    In:
  • Texas
Alex Sundby

Alex Sundby is a senior editor for CBSNews.com

Twitter

More:Scams

Recommend

Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires

Global warming caused mainly by burning of fossil fuels made the hot, dry and windy conditions that

Maine storms wash away iconic fishing shacks, expose long-buried 1911 shipwreck on beach

A record high tide in Maine washed away three historic fishing shacks that had stood since the 1800s

With ‘God’s-eye view,’ secretive surveillance flights keep close watch on Russia and Ukraine

ABOARD A FRENCH AIR FORCE AWACS (AP) — Off in the distance, Ukraine, fighting for its survival. Seen