An accused murderer who was able to flee house arrest by breaking off his ankle monitor was arrested Monday after a month-long manhunt as one of Texas’ 10 most wanted fugitives.
Trevor McEuen, 32, was facing capital murder charges when he skipped a court appearance on May 5 — which Lone Star Gov. Greg Abbott ripped as proof for “why Texas must fix its broken and deadly bail system.”
McEuen was finally busted early Monday, with a photo showing him barefoot and covered in mud in the back of a police cruiser.
McEuen had been put on the list of Texas’ most-wanted fugitives with a $30,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. It was not immediately clear if a tip led to Monday’s arrest.
He fled house arrest while awaiting trial on capital murder charges for the 2023 execution-style slaying of a neighbor, Aaron Martinez, 35, who was shot 15-30 times in the back and forehead.
The slaying came at the climax of a lengthy feud between the neighbors that Martinez’s family alleged included McEuen firing at Martinez’s property and hurling racial slurs at him.
After the murder, McEuen was arrested following a standoff with the SWAT team and charged with murder. He was later indicted for capital murder in November 2023, CBS News reported.
He was released from jail in September but was locked up again after he violated his terms for posting photos of Martinez online.
He was released again after posting another $2 million bond in December, just to eventually break off his ankle monitor and flee, according to Fox 4 News.
“Trevor McEuen is exactly why Texas must fix its broken and deadly bail system,” Gov. Abbott had said during the hunt.
“A violent criminal like McEuen charged with capital murder should never be released on our streets. That’s why I made bail reform an emergency item that must pass this legislative session.”
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