Massive Rewards For Texas Fugitives Who Have ‘Disappeared’ For Years

We tend to take solace that people who commit the most heinous crimes- murder, harming children, sexual assault- will face equitably harsh justice, especially in hard-on-crime Texas.

However, it is impossible to enact that justice if the perpetrator cannot be found. That is why the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS) maintains multiple Most Wanted lists- to aid and incentivize the capture of these individuals.

These include: Top Ten Most Wanted, Sex Offenders List, Criminal Illegal Immigrants, and the subject of this article: Still Wanted.

How Long Does It Take Texas To Capture A Fugitive?

This question has no clean answer, as it varies drastically depending on circumstances. Some fugitives are caught within weeks, while others may never be apprehended at all.

Read More: Texas Man Scheduled to Be Executed For Bleach Fire Murder

However, if you must have averages, one study from The University of Chicago (2005) figured:

The average time it takes to capture a fugitive varies, but federal fugitives in a study averaged 70.8 months, while local fugitives averaged 53.9 months. 

Note, however, that it was fugitives in the study, so not a comprehensive average.

Do Some Texas Fugitives Get Away With It Forever?

I suppose the metric of "getting away with it" would be dying without ever being apprehended.

That very well may be the case for some of the men who have evaded capture the longest, since we do not know where they are, the "afterlife" is one place they could be.

Are There Big Rewards For Capturing Fugitives In Texas?

Every person on each fugitive list has reward amounts in the thousands, depending on the severity of their crime. Some of these fugitives also have additional rewards that the community or the victim's family has raised for their capture.

Read More: Texas Rangers vs. FBI: Who Has The Most Power In Texas?

Note: All fugitives should be considered armed and dangerous! You do not need to restrain any of these people to get the reward- following the anonymous tip instructions will get you the reward if it leads to an arrest.

Do Texas Most Wanted Rewards Really Get Paid Out?

Absolutely. That is evident from the "Captured" list on the DPS website. Not every captured fugitive resulted in a reward- some of these folks get caught at traffic stops or by investigative police work that did not involve a tipster.

Which Texas Fugitives Have Evaded Capture the Longest?

Here is a look at the ten men who have evaded capture the longest. There is only one woman currently on the Still Wanted list, but these males have her beat on time spent on the run.