Photo:St. Louis County Police Department

Sex offender recaptured after escape from St. Louis County hospital

St. Louis County Police Department

On Thursday evening around 8 p.m. local time, theSt. Louis County Police posted on X, formally known as Twitter, that Tommy Wayne Boyd was captured on the 7300 hundred block of Watson Road, in St. Louis, Mo.

According toNBC 5’sOn Your Side, the inmate escaped while one of the correction officers was asleep and the other went to the bathroom. The felon was able to take the keys to his handcuffs from the sleeping guard.

Sex offender recaptured after escape from St. Louis County hospital

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The convicted child sex offender is an inmate at Potosi Correctional Facility. According to online records, Boyd is serving a 30-year sentence for enticement of a child.

He is listed on the Missouri sex offender registry after being convicted of statutory sodomy. Boyd committed statutory sodomy in 1996 in Springfield, Missouri. He was 18 years old and his victim was an 11-year-old boy, reportedABC News.

At the start of the manhunt, the police classified Boyd as “dangerous.”

“We’re urging residents to remain vigilant as our officers search for Mr. Boyd,” the St. Louis County Police wrote onX. “Be sure your homes and garages are secure. Watch children at bus stops.”

Missouri schools, The Mehlville School and Lindbergh Schools, released statements notifying students and their families that they would implement lockout procedures. Schools remained in session and only indoors, but any additional extracurricular activities were canceled. The schools have announced everything will return to normal for Friday classes.

During the manhunt, the St. Louis County Policeannounced they were searching for Boydwith the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the State Department of Corrections, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Special Response Unit, the K-9 Unit, and the Metro Air Support.

In addition to the police’s official statement, Mercy Hospital released a statement during the manhunt. “Police searched [the] campus and our security team searched all buildings on campus and found no evidence he is still here,” said the official statement. “We continue to assist St. Louis County Police in their search and investigation.”

After Boyd was captured, the police tweeted, “Thank you to the media and our community who provided numerous tips to assist in locating this dangerous felon. Our residents are safer tonight with Boyd in custody.”

source: people.com