Officials fear dangerous fugitive McArthur Mathis could strike again as he heads toward Central Texas counties
Authorities across Texas are scrambling to locate a violent fugitive who slipped out of a psychiatric hospital late Wednesday night. The man—identified as 45-year-old McArthur Mathis—is a convicted sex offender with a long and disturbing rap sheet. He is now considered armed, extremely dangerous, and possibly making his way toward Central Texas.
According to police, Mathis made a daring escape from The Cross Creek Psychiatric and Addiction Hospital in Austin just before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Officers were called to the facility on a welfare check, only to discover the back door had been kicked open and Mathis had vaulted over a six-foot perimeter fence.
“This man should not be roaming free,” said Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell. “Given his criminal background, we are treating this as a top-level threat.”
Mathis had been in custody since January 2 on multiple felony warrants. His charges include:
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon—involving serious injury to a family member
- Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon
- Obstruction or retaliation
- Burglary of a habitation
- Deadly conduct
“He’s not just a flight risk—he’s a public danger,” said Austin Police Lt. Renee Lopez. “We believe he may be trying to contact associates in Grimes, Lavaca, Brazos, or Gonzales counties.”
Mathis is also a registered sex offender, adding even more urgency to the search. His criminal history paints a picture of escalating violence, and law enforcement fears he may already be armed.
The Cross Creek hospital, which specializes in treating inmates with co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse disorders, has not released a statement on how Mathis was able to escape undetected. However, internal sources suggest security measures at the facility were “woefully inadequate” for a high-risk inmate like Mathis.
“Something went seriously wrong,” said a hospital staffer, speaking anonymously. “He never should have been left unsupervised, not even for a minute.”
The manhunt now spans at least four Texas counties. Local residents have been urged to stay alert and not approach Mathis under any circumstances.
Police describe Mathis as:
- Black male
- Approximately 6 feet tall
- Weighs 240 pounds
- Last seen wearing hospital-issued clothing
Anyone with tips is urged to contact the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office at (936) 873-2151, or submit an anonymous tip through Grimes County Crimestoppers at (936) 873-2000 or www.p3tips.com.
“Call it in. Don’t try to be a hero,” Lt. Lopez added. “We need to get him off the streets—fast.”
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He could be the next Floyd-type HERO for the Democrats/blacks…
Perhaps it is time to consider building a psychiatric prison. It’s hard to kick open the backdoor of a prison, and their perimeter fences are considerably taller than six feet.