Crockett Co. Sheriff’s Office: Escaped jail inmate now in custody

CROCKETT CO., Tenn.— The escapee from Crockett County Jail is now in custody.

Reports broke just after 11:30 a.m. Saturday that Gerald “Pete” Samples was taken into custody. Samples managed to get away from the Crockett County Jail on March 25. Camera footage captured him leaving the facility around 4:41 a.m.

Samples was awaiting extradition to Virginia on 13 charges related to the sexual exploitation of children. Samples also has active warrants in Crockett County not only for escape but felony theft. This is not his first time running from authorities. Samples has a prior escape on record from 2020.

Most recently a reward was offered for information to find Samples. A TBI reward of up to $2,500 and the USMS was offering an additional $1,000 bringing the total possible reward to $3,500.

CREDIT: CROCKETT CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Authorities have not yet released any further details on his capture.

Stay tuned to WBBJ on-air and online as we find out more details.

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