Texas on high alert after sex offender escapes from prison

A manhunt is underway in Texas for a convicted sex offender who escaped from prison on Sunday. He was serving a life sentence without parole for raping and torturing two women, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).

The escapee, Alberto Morales, 49, was being transferred from Miami to Nevada as part of a prisoner exchange program. He allegedly stabbed a detective guarding him in Grapevine, Texas and then fled the scene. He was last seen driving a white pickup truck with Florida license plates.

Morales has multiple convictions for sexual assault and kidnapping in Florida and Texas. He also has an active warrant for aggravated sexual battery and kidnapping in Texas. The TDCJ said that Morales is considered extremely dangerous and armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees him or has information about his location should call 911 immediately. The TDCJ also offered a $10,000 reward for tips leading to his arrest.

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The escape of Morales has raised concerns about the security of prisons in Texas, which have been facing challenges due to staff shortages, budget cuts, lawsuits and COVID-19 outbreaks. In 2013, another sex offender named Gonzalo Lopez escaped from a prison bus in Leon County by stabbing the driver and jumping out of the vehicle. Lopez was later captured after nine hours of hiding in a trash can.

The TDCJ said that it is working closely with local law enforcement agencies to find Morales and ensure public safety. The TDCJ also said that it is reviewing its policies and procedures to prevent future escapes.