Smith County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Clayton Taylor confirmed that Ricardo Rodriguez-Medina, 27, was recaptured Friday around 8:30 a.m. after an extensive search. The sheriff's office said he was found in the 8000 block of FM 314 in Ben Wheeler.
Authorities said Rodriguez-Medina slipped out of his handcuffs while receiving treatment at Fresenius Medical Care West Tyler Dialysis on Thursday afternoon and ran. According to the sheriff's office, he discarded his orange jail jumpsuit in nearby woods.
Taylor said officials were concerned for both public safety and Rodriguez-Medina's wellbeing, because he requires dialysis treatments every two to three days. Rodriguez-Medina had been in custody since Oct. 8 on charges of online solicitation of a minor and sexual assault of a child. Additional charges related to the escape are expected.