‘Affluenza’ Teen Wanted by US Marshals

Federal law enforcement officials on Friday offered a reward of $5,000 for information leading to the capture of Ethan Couch, the Texas teenager who became infamous in 2013 when he avoided jail time after killing four in a drunk driving incident.

Now the Federal Bureau of Investigation and US Marshals are assisting the Tarrant County Sheriff’s office in their search for the teen, which includes checking worldwide flight manifests.

The sheriff also shared his belief that Couch and his mother have fled the country, telling Anderson Cooper his “gut feeling says they’ve gone a long way”.

The FBI and U.S. Marshals have joined the hunt for the missing “affluenza” teen – but a Texas sheriff fears the brat and his wealthy mom may have fled the country.

Ethan Couch’s attorneys told KXAS-TV (http://bit.ly/1QnF8iz ) of Fort Worth-Dallas that a judge has issued “a directive to apprehend” Couch after a juvenile probation officer was unable to contact 18-year-old Couch or his mother, with whom he was living. On December 11th, a warrant was issued for Couch’s arrest. He was 16 years old at the time, and at trial, a doctor testified that he suffered from “affluenza” because he had always been insulated from the consequences of his actions by his parents’ wealth. Although Couch is now considered an adult, his case remains in juvenile court because his offense occurred when he was a minor.

The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office has tasked a sheriff’s team that specializes in serving warrants with finding Couch, who is now on a national fugitive data-base.

Once Couch is found, there’s a “variety of possibilities”, Jordan said.

Tarrant County investigators were looking for Couch to ask him about a video posted online a few weeks ago showing people at a party playing drinking games.

“After seeing the interviews with the victims’ families and stuff, it really gets to me”, she said earlier this month.

In the six-second video, someone with a striking resemblance to Couch is seen smiling, laughing, and looking on as one of his obnoxious friends swan-dives onto a table of half full cups of beer.

Judge Timothy Menikos oversees the 323rd District Court and is expected to rule on a request to move Couch’s case from juvenile court to adult court after Couch turns 19.

As a condition of his probation, Couch was instructed to not lose touch with his probation officer, and to stay from drugs or alcohol. If he is in the video, officials will have to determine whether that constitutes a probation violation.

Boyd did not run for re-election. Call the U.S. Marshals Service at 800-336-0102.