"Dangerous" inmate captured after escaping custody while getting treatment at hospital in St. Louis

Authorities in Missouri have captured a prison inmate who escaped custody early Thursday morning while receiving treatment at a St. Louis hospital. 

The inmate, identified as 45-year-old Tommy Wayne Boyd, was taken into custody Thursday evening about six miles north of the hospital, the St. Louis County Police Department said in a statement on social media. 

Investigators were "following up on leads" when they located him, police said. No further details were provided. 

Boyd is a convicted child sex offender serving a 30-year sentence for statutory sodomy, police said in a Facebook post. Statutory sodomy applies to certain sex crimes that involve minors younger than 14, under Missouri state law.

Prior to his escape, Boyd was last seen by staff at Mercy Hospital South, in the greater St. Louis area, just before 4 a.m. on Thursday, and police received a call reporting the escape from custody about 30 minutes later. The inmate had been transferred Wednesday from the Potosi Correctional Facility to the hospital for treatment. 

Surveillance footage from the hospital showed Boyd leaving the building on foot and "traveling in an unknown direction," authorities said. The St. Louis County Police Department released still images taken from that footage, in which Boyd appeared to be wearing a dark jacket, orange slippers and light-colored gym shorts. 

Following his escape, authorities warned residents in the area to be aware of their surroundings and promptly report any potential sightings by calling 911. 

Boyd's escape came on the heels of several other instances in recent months where inmates fled custody while receiving hospital treatment. 

Earlier this month, officials in New York City located and returned to custody an escaped inmate, 44-year-old Yenchun Chen, who was arrested in late July for possession of a controlled substance, CBS New York reported. 

In Philadelphia, Danielo Cavalcante eluded Pennsylvania authorities for two weeks before being captured.

In Washington, D.C., authorities are still looking for a murder suspect who has remained at large for weeks. The suspect, Christopher Haynes, escaped from custody at George Washington University Hospital on the afternoon of Sept. 6, the Metropolitan Police Department said. Police announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to Haynes' arrest the following day.

In:
• Missouri
• St. Louis
• Escaped Prisoner
• Crime