August 11, 2019 – In Breaking News – CNN
An inmate who escaped from a Tennessee prison has been taken into custody, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) confirmed Sunday afternoon.
The Tennessee Department of Corrections attributed Curtis Ray Watson’s capture to the “vigilant efforts” of search teams and resident tips.
Watson was apprehended at 11 a.m. in Henning, where the West Tennessee State Penitentiary he escaped from on Wednesday is located, the department said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, the department confirmed a sighting of Watson in Henning.
(Curtis Ray Watson was found after a five day manhunt in Tennessee, all thanks to home surveillance footage of him raiding a family’s outdoor refrigerator. Watson is accused of sexually assaulting and killing a prison administrator after his escape last week. Courtesy of NBC News and YouTube. Posted on Aug 11, 2019.)
Watson had changed his clothing and was believed to be wearing camouflage bib overalls and a hat, the Department of Corrections said Sunday.
He was carrying a camp backpack, the department added.
Local residents have watched as law enforcement officials and K-9 units have descended on the area searching for him.
He fled the area in a tractor, which was found just over a mile away, along with his prison identification.
The TBI said it had received 369 tips but zero credible sightings of him by late Saturday, and was offering a reward of $57,000.
It had warned people in the immediate prison area to be on the lookout and double-check their property, crawl spaces and dog houses — anywhere someone could hide.
(The TBI warned everyone across the state to keep their eyes open and not to become complacent throughout this weekend in the search for escaped inmate Curtis Watson. Courtesy of NewsChannel 5 and YouTube. Posted on Aug 9, 2019.)
Those with trail or property surveillance cameras should check those too, officials said.
The TBI added Watson to its Most Wanted list.
It tweeted pictures of his tattoos and his face, and additional mug shots in case he changed “the appearance of his facial hair after his escape.”
UPDATE: We are releasing two of Curtis Watson’s previous mug shots from his TDOC incarceration, in case he altered the appearance of his facial hair after his escape yesterday.
If you see him, do not approach. Call 911.
Thanks for helping us to spread the word! pic.twitter.com/4EhBnEK9J6
— TBI (@TBInvestigation) August 8, 2019
Continue reading… An inmate who escaped from a Tennessee prison is now in custody
Thanks to the hardwork & dedication of the brave men & women within TDOC, @TBI, @ATFHQ, @USMarshalsHQ ,Tipton Co Sheriff’s Dept, @TWRA, @THP, Lauderdale Co Sheriffs Dept, & many other partnering agencies, Curtis Watson has been brought to justice for the murder of Debra Johnson! pic.twitter.com/UntKhBsn2h
— Dept of Correction (@TNTDOC1) August 11, 2019
Editor’s note: Our thoughts and prayer are with the family and peers of Ms. Debra Johnson.
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