HOUSTON (AP) — Authorities launched a nationwide manhunt for a death-row inmate who walked unnoticed out of a Texas county jail and began an investigation into whether he had help making the brazen escape.
The U.S. Marshals Office on Saturday designated Charles Victor Thompson a federal fugitive and offered a $10,000 reward for his capture. Officials also alerted airports, border officials and other law enforcement agencies.
Lt. John Martin of the Harris County Sheriff's Department said investigators had found the civilian clothing Thompson wore when he left the building. It was behind a sheriff's department building downtown and some effort had been made to hide it, he said.
"It's pretty clear at this point there was somebody helping him," Martin said.