News Summary
In a bold escape, McArthur Mathis, an inmate at Cross Creek Psychiatric and Addiction Hospital in Texas, fled the facility by kicking open a door and jumping over a fence. Law enforcement has issued a BOLO notice as he is considered armed and dangerous. Authorities are urging the public to report any sightings. Mathis has a long criminal history, including serious charges, raising concerns about public safety following this incident. The Grimes County Sheriff’s Office is actively seeking tips as they investigate the escape further.
Austin, Texas – McArthur Mathis, a Texas prison inmate, staged a daring escape from the Cross Creek Psychiatric and Addiction Hospital on Wednesday night, prompting the Austin Police Department to issue a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) notice. Officers received a call regarding Mathis’s flight from the facility shortly before 10:30 p.m., leading to an urgent response from law enforcement.
Upon their arrival, investigators learned that Mathis had forcibly kicked open a back door and jumped over a fence to flee the hospital grounds. This incident occurred shortly after he was last seen at the facility around 8 p.m. that same evening. As of the latest reports, Mathis remains at large.
Mathis, who has been in custody in Grimes County since January 2, 2023, is facing multiple serious charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury to a family member, obstruction or retaliation, deadly conduct, and burglary of a habitation. Authorities have identified him as a registered sex offender and suspect that he may attempt to return to known contacts in nearby Grimes, Lavaca, Brazos, or Gonzales counties.
Given his extensive criminal history, law enforcement has communicated that Mathis may be armed and dangerous, emphasizing the public’s need to remain vigilant. Anyone with information regarding Mathis’s whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately.
Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell expressed disappointment regarding the escape, particularly since it follows a concerning pattern of inmates escaping from treatment facilities. He voiced specific concerns about public safety, pointing out that Mathis’s violent background poses risks to innocent individuals. As part of ongoing efforts to address these issues, Sheriff Sowell plans to review alternative treatment options for inmates in the future, in light of the repeated escapes.
Mathis was admitted to the hospital earlier in May for treatment, following his arrest four months prior. The circumstances surrounding his escape align with previous incidents where other inmates have also absconded from different behavioral health facilities, highlighting a potential systemic issue in securing such locations.
In the aftermath of Mathis’s escape, the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office is actively seeking tips from the community about his whereabouts, urging residents to stay alert and report any sightings of the fugitive to authorities. The ongoing investigation aims to locate Mathis as swiftly as possible to ensure public safety and apprehend him due to the serious nature of his criminal offenses.
The Cross Creek Psychiatric and Addiction Hospital has faced scrutiny from law enforcement in light of this incident. Requests for comment regarding their security measures and notification processes have gone unanswered, raising questions about the effectiveness of protocols in place to prevent inmate escapes.
This developing situation continues to impact the residents of the region as authorities work diligently to locate Mathis and ensure community safety.
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Additional Resources
- KVUE News
- Wikipedia: Prison Escape
- ABC13 News
- Google Search: Austin psychiatric hospital inmate escape
- KXXV News
- Google Scholar: Inmate Escape Security Measures
- Click2Houston News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Prison Security
- Fox 7 Austin News
- Google News: Inmate escape from Austin hospital
Author: STAFF HERE AUSTIN WRITER
The AUSTIN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAustinTX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Austin, Travis County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as SXSW, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, and the Austin Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Visit Austin, plus leading businesses in technology, automotive, and retail that power the local economy such as Dell Technologies, Tesla, and Apple. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
