Texas murder suspect who cut ankle monitor captured after weeks-long manhunt

A Texas capital murder suspect, Trevor McEuen, who was out on bond and failed to appear in court, was captured Monday after a weeks-long manhunt for the fugitive. The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook that McEuen was taken into custody early Monday morning. The photo shared showed a muddied and barefoot McEuen handcuffed in the backseat of a law enforcement vehicle.

McEuen had been on the run since early May when he allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and fled the day his trial was scheduled to start in connection with the 2023 shooting of his neighbor, rancher and horse trainer Aaron Martinez. McEuen allegedly admitted to shooting and killing Martinez as the rancher sat in his truck outside his home.

Despite being held on a $2 million bond, McEuen was able to post bail and was released in September with an ankle monitor. He violated the terms of his release, leading to his second arrest. However, he posted bail again in December and was released once more. He is facing charges of capital murder by terror threat, murder, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The Texas Department of Public Safety issued an additional warrant against McEuen for arson of a habitation on May 6. When he cut off his ankle monitor, McEuen allegedly set fire to the home where he was staying in Van Zandt County before officers arrived.

Governor Greg Abbott has used McEuen’s case to push for bail reform, including a state constitutional amendment that would require Texas judges to automatically deny bail for violent crimes, including murder. Abbott increased the award for information leading to McEuen’s capture to $30,000 and urged Texans to submit anonymous tips to help law enforcement apprehend him. McEuen’s capture is seen as a reason why Texas must fix its broken bail system.

The sheriff’s office promised to release additional details about the circumstances of the arrest later on Monday morning. Audrey Conklin of Fox News Digital contributed to this report. Danielle Wallace, a breaking news and politics reporter at Fox News Digital, can be contacted for story tips at danielle.wallace@fox.com and on X: @danimwallace.