Three things to know about manhunt for ‘affluenza’ teen Ethan Couch

Couch escaped prison time in a drunk driving crash that killed four people in 2013. The U.S. Marshals Service posted photos of Ethan Couch online Friday, along with a $5,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

A “directive to apprehend”, – the juvenile justice equivalent of an arrest warrant – was issued for Couch on Tuesday after his probation officer was unable to reach him for several days, the Dallas Morning News reported.

“This is egregious. “Affluenza” aside, Ethan Couch appears to show blatant disregard for the law, and he must be held accountable”, said Colleen Sheehey-Church, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in a statement.

Defense attorneys said Couch was the victim of “affluenza” because he was spoiled by his wealthy parents and never faced any consequences for his actions, growing up with a sense of entitlement and poor judgement. He is wanted on suspicion of missing a check-in with his probation officer. Anderson believed Couch’s disappearance was planned following the release of the video. Couch got off with a 10 year probation sentence and ban from alcohol and driving. In a test carried out three hours after the crash, Couch had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit. Twelve others were hurt, including two critically injured teens who were among seven people riding in Couch’s pick-up.

Couch killed 24-year-old Breanna Mitchell, whose SUV had broken down, and three people who had stopped to help: youth pastor Brian Jennings, 41; and Hollie Boyles, 52, and her daughter, Shelby Boyles, 21. Sheriff Anderson is more hopeful that massive new resources and massive publicity will lead to Couch’s arrest.

While there has been no specific evidence that suggests that Couch or his mother has left the country, authorities have expressed a general concern that Couch and his mother may have had the time, money and means to flee.

Interest in the case had subsided until last month when a six-second video clip was posted on Twitter showing a teenager resembling Couch laughing and clapping as another partygoer dived onto a table loaded with cups of beer. “We are aware that the probation authorities and/or the district attorney’s office are conducting an investigation to determine if Ethan has violated any of the terms and conditions of his probation”.

“We are only assuming that they’re together”, Grisham said.

Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson said: ‘We fear that he has left the country.

If authorities do find him, he could end up behind bars for a decade. He was ordered to attend a rehabilitation facility.

State prosecutors have been pushing for a motion to have his case moved to an adult court.