WAYNE COUNTY, Utah —U.S. Marshals investigators say viewers in Wayne County saw Colt’s wanted poster on the news Monday evening and recognized Colt, calling in tips to the U.S. Marshals Service and the WayneCounty Sheriff’s Office.
As sheriff’s deputies were staging in a parking lot near the target house, they saw Colt roll by on his blue motorcycle and gave chase. Colt eventually decided to give up. He confirmed his identity, and the sheriff confirmed the motorcycle VIN in NCIC.
He is being held in the Sevier County jail pending his return to Kansas.
“Effective law enforcement in the United States today is enhanced by citizens willing to report what they see,” said U.S. marshal for the District of Kansas Ronald Miller. “That occurred in this case and resulted in a violent predator being recaptured.”
The U.S. Marshals elevated Colt’s escape to major case status Sept. 20 and had offered up to $10,000 as reward for information leading to Colt’s arrest. The USMS will continue to collect information and work with Utah USMS to start a failure to register case on him. As the lead federal agency for sex offender violations following passage of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, the
Colt was sentenced on Dec. 14, 2001, to five years in state prison for aggravated sexual battery, attempted rape, aggravated burglary, and four counts of aggravated battery against law enforcement. He was required to register as a sexual offender for the remainder of his life.
After his criminal sentence was completed, the State of Kansas courts deemed him a Sexually Violent Predator at high risk to commit a future sex offense and too dangerous to be released. He was indefinitely civilly committed and sent to the Larned State Hospital’s Sexual Predator Treatment Program in 2007, where he has resided until the escape.
Investigators believe Colt planned his escape several months in advance, obtaining a replica of a staff ID badge and dress clothes. The morning of his escape he shaved off his long hair and beard. He put blankets under his bed covers making it appear he was still in bed sleeping. He was then able to convince a new staff worker (that he targeted) that he was in fact a new doctor and needed help finding his way out. Posing as a doctor, Colt was able to make his way past five secured doors and ultimately outside the gates.
Several hours passed before staff noticed he was missing and alerted the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office. After escaping, Colt received a ride from a local farmer to the town of Larned. From there he rode to Scott City on a motorcycle he’d purchased prior to his escape with the help of an accomplice.
--------
WAYNE COUNTY, Utah—Thanks to tips from the public, authorities arrested 42-year-old John Colt near Torrey, Utah late Monday without incident, according Sevier County Sheriff Nathan Curtis.
Colt escaped from the Sexual Predator Treatment program at the Larned State hospital on June 30 and traveled over 850 miles before his arrest.
Just after midnight Tuesday, Colt was booked into the Sevier County jail in Richfield, Utah, according to online jail records.
He is being help until until officials can arrange for his extradition back to Kansas. Colt has previous convictions for aggravated sexual battery, theft, forgery, aggravated burglary, interference with parental custody and criminal damage, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.
------------
PAWNEE COUNTY — The search for a man who escaped from the Sexual Predator Treatment program at the Larned State hospital in June is over.
The Pawnee County Attorney reported he received messages Tuesday morning confirming the arrest of 42-year-old John Freeman Colt. He is being held in a jail in Utah, according to Sheriff Nathan Curtis.
Few details are available. Check the Post for more information as it is released.
--------------
PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue to search for 42-year-old John Freeman Colt according to the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office.
Just after 7a.m. June 30, he walked out of the Sexual Predator Treatment Program at the Larned State Hospital, according to the Pawnee County Sheriff.
He was last seen at 11:10a.m. Wednesday June 30 walking north bound from Kwik Shop on Broadway.
Barton County Sheriff Bellendir explained how Colt made it that far. “He caught a ride into town and gave a story he had a broken-down vehicle,” Bellendir said. “He was dressed in dress clothes. He didn’t look like what you’d expect an inmate to be. He looked more like a social worker, and that’s probably how he managed to escape, which the state investigators for DOC (the Department of Corrections) are over there trying to figure all of that out right now.”
Bellendir said Colt had altered his appearance by cutting his hair and shaving off a beard.
Colt is described as a white male, medium skin tone, 5-foot-7 200 pounds, blue eyes, and short brown hair.
He also has a tattoo on his left arm of a heart with the letters BH.
He was last seen wearing a gray long sleeve shirt, black pants ( possibly dress pants ) and a dark face mask. Subject possibly has an ID badge "C JONES", and may have a cell phone.
Colt should be considered dangerous. If seen, or you know his whereabouts, please call 911.