A man accused of being a serial rapist, Sean Williams, who escaped from prison last month, was apprehended in Florida on Tuesday night thanks to the vigilance of a 7-Eleven cashier, Tasha Baumgartner, who recognized him and promptly alerted the police.
Williams, already in federal custody for charges related to child sexual abuse material and cocaine distribution, had escaped from a prison transport van in Greenville, Tennessee, on October 18. Despite being on the run for a month, authorities traced him to Florida after determining he had stolen a car in Greenville.
A deputy, seeking assistance, showed Williams' photo to Baumgartner at the 7-Eleven, leading to his identification and subsequent capture.
Baumgartner, having seen a blurry photo earlier, became suspicious when Williams entered the store. After he left, she found a clearer image on Facebook, recognized his distinctive tattoo, and promptly informed the police of his presence in her store.
Law enforcement arrived promptly, discovering Williams hiding near the 7-Eleven under a tarp, and he was taken into custody without incident.
Williams, already considered a flight risk due to two previous escape attempts, faced federal charges for child pornography production and drug possession.
Additionally, he is the subject of a lawsuit filed by former US Attorney Kateri Dahl, alleging mishandling of an investigation by the Johnson City Police Department into multiple sexual assault accusations against him.
One of these accusations involved an incident where a woman fell from his fifth-floor apartment window but miraculously survived. After Williams' recapture, Mikayla Evans, the survivor, expressed relief, calling it "the best news ever."
During the manhunt, authorities described Williams as dangerous, offering a combined reward of up to $7,500 for information leading to his arrest.
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