Edi Villalobos, a 28-year-old accused of murdering 33-year-old Artemio Guzman-Olvera in 2021, made a daring escape from the Washington County Courthouse in Oregon during his pretrial on February 27th. Security cameras captured two officers escorting Villalobos into the courtroom before removing his leg shackles and handcuffs as required by Oregon law.
However, after being unshackled, Villalobos quickly stood up and ran through the first-floor hallways and out a staff-only entrance of the courthouse. Two deputies chased after him, but Villalobos managed to evade capture twice during foot pursuits.
A two-hour manhunt ensued, with drones, K-9 units, and two local police departments assisting the sheriff’s deputies. A resident of an apartment complex tipped off law enforcement about a man attempting to break into a door. Villalobos was found hiding under a blanket inside an empty apartment at around 1:45 PM.
Villalobos was scheduled to stand trial in early March for the fatal stabbing of Guzman-Olvera and a second stabbing that left another man critically injured. He was also accused of critically stabbing a second, unrelated man later that day. Villalobos faced several charges, including second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. His daring escape from court resulted in additional charges, including escape in the second degree and another burglary charge.
No jurors were present in the courtroom during Villalobos’ escape, and he was returned to the Washington County jail following his arrest. It is unclear if he will be restrained when the jury reconvenes, as Oregon law requires accused persons to be unshackled from their restraints while in front of a jury. However, Villalobos’ escape may result in a push for restraints to be used during his trial.
In conclusion, Edi Villalobos’ daring escape from the Washington County Courthouse during his pretrial has resulted in additional charges and a two-hour manhunt before he was eventually caught. His trial for the murder of Artemio Guzman-Olvera and other charges is scheduled to restart soon, with the use of restraints during the trial potentially being reconsidered.
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