Inmate Escapes Crockett County Jail

ALAMO, TN – [March 25, 2026] – The Crockett County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the escape of an inmate from the Crockett County Jail and has launched a manhunt to apprehend him.

Courtesy of the Crockett County Sheriffs Department

Suspect description and criminal history

Gerald Pete Samples, a 59-year-old white male, escaped custody this morning. Samples is 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs approximately 207 pounds, and was last seen wearing a brown shirt and brown pants. He was being held on a Circuit Court violation since August 9, 2025. Samples has a prior history of escape, having fled custody in 2020, and is considered a career criminal.

The manhunt is currently focused in Gibson County.

According to the Crockett County Sheriff’s Department, Gerald “Pete” Samples has been housed in the Crockett County Jail since August 2025, awaiting extradition to Virginia where he faces multiple felony charges for solicitation of a Child 15 years or younger by electronic means from July 2024.

Virginia is awaiting approval from the Tennessee Governor’s Extradition Division so that authorities in Prince William, Virginia can transport Samples to Virginia to face those charges.

As part of our investigation into his escape, camera footage shows he escaped around 4:41 AM this morning. He remains at large with a multi-agency manhunt as our primary concern at this time is bringing Samples back into custody.

According to an arrest warrant issued on June 27, 2025 from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Samples used electronic means of communication to solicit a child under the age of 15-years old to engage in sexual actions with him between July 8, 2024 and July 12, 2024. The charge is a Class 5 felony in Virginia.

Crockett County court documents reflect Samples has a lengthy history of criminal charges. In July 2009, he pled guilty to 3 counts of theft of property $1000 to $10,000. He was sentenced to 10 years at 45 percent and was ordered to pay restitution to the pawn shop where he stole the items.

In February 2019, he pled guilty to Theft of Property $2,500 – $10,000 and was sentenced to 12 years at 45 percent. He also pled guilty to reckless endangerment and was sentenced to 6 years at 45 percent.

In September of 2018, he pled guilty to Theft of Property $1,000 – $2,500 and was sentenced to 6 years at 45 percent and ordered to complete alcohol and drug treatment at the Tennessee Department of Corrections. He was ordered to pay $900 in restitution.

In July 2020, he pled guilty to Theft of Property $2,500 – $10,000 and was sentenced to 12 years at 45 percent and was ordered to complete an alcohol and drug assessment at the Tennessee Department of Corrections.

Manhunt underway

Investigators are conducting a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the escape including whether or not there are accomplices, however, catching Samples remains the Sheriff’s Office top priority.

According to Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle Samples used has been located on Bruce Hardaway Rd in Gibson County. The sheriff’s office is asking residents to be vigilant.

Safety precautions

At this time, there is no reason to believe the subject is armed, but we encourage everyone to remain alert and take basic safety precautions:

• Do not leave keys inside your vehicles
• Make sure your vehicles are locked
• Ensure your homes and outbuildings are secured

The Crockett County Sheriff’s Office said Samples used a Crockett County Sheriff’s Office patrol car to escape. Anyone who sees Samples or has information about his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately.

The Crockett County Sheriff’s Office thanks the public for their vigilance and assistance in bringing this individual back into custody. Updates may be provided as they become available.

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