UPDATE: Curtis Watson has been captured by law enforcement in Tipton County, TN.
A couple in Lauderdale County alerted police when they saw a man matching Watson’s description searching through their refrigerator outside.
CAPTURED! pic.twitter.com/k2kay8YD7I
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) August 11, 2019
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HENNING, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Law enforcement has confirmed sightings of Curtis Watson, the inmate who escaped from West Tennessee Penitentiary.
The five-day manhunt has TDOC, TBI, and local law enforcement scouring the area of Henning, TN after residents captured footage of Watson on their home surveillance cameras.
ALERT: Confirmed siting of Curtis Ray Watson in Henning, TN. He has changed his clothing as can be seen in the photos provided by a resident who notified authorities that they’d spotted him on their property. Residents in the area should be ALERT and VIGILANT pic.twitter.com/RJJB255kVj
— Dept of Correction (@TNTDOC1) August 11, 2019
Local agents from Henry County are sending officers and dogs to the area to support the search. This includes Rowdy, a bloodhound who helped track Kirby Wallace last year.
JUST IN— The Henry Co. Sheriff’s Office is sending six deputies, two bloodhounds to Henning to assist with the search for Curtis Watson. One of those bloodhounds is Rowdy, who helped track double murder suspect Kirby Wallace last year @WKRN pic.twitter.com/zN3d5AB68Q
— Maura Sirianni (@MauraSirianni) August 11, 2019
The reward for information leading to the capture of Watson has increased to $57,000. Early Thursday, Governor Bill Lee, the TBI, and ATF offered a combined $32,500 reward. The FBI and U.S. Marshals added $10,000 each. Now TDOC has contributed an additional $4,500 to raise the total to $57,000.
Watson was discovered missing after the discovery of TDOC administrator Debra Johnson, found strangled and assaulted.