A Houston County man wanted for continuous sexual abuse of a young child died after shooting himself following a multi‑agency pursuit that began in Crockett on Friday afternoon. The chase, which involved the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Crockett and Grapeland police, Texas DPS troopers, and the county fire marshal, ended on rural roads west of Grapeland.
The pursuit started around 3:40 p.m. when a Crockett officer tried to stop the suspect on Durrett Drive, but he fled onto FM 229 and surrounding county roads. Authorities say the driver refused to stop, leading law enforcement on a high‑speed chase before it was finally forced to end.
After roughly 30 minutes, a DPS trooper deployed spike strips in the 6000 block of FM 227, several miles west of Grapeland. The punctured tires sent the vehicle off the roadway and through a fence before it finally came to rest. Officers then found the driver inside with what appeared to be a self‑inflicted gunshot wound. Grapeland EMS transported him to Mid Coast Medical Center in Crockett, where he later died. Investigations into both the crash and the related sexual abuse case remain ongoing with assistance from the Texas Rangers, according to KLTV.
Investigation and legal context
The Crockett Police Department says investigators are still collecting evidence at the scene to understand the final moments of the pursuit. Continuous sexual abuse of a young child is classified as a first‑degree felony under the Texas Penal Code, as per Statutes.
What officials said
Crockett police say the deceased suspect will not be publicly identified until next of kin are notified and stressed that the probe remains active. Grapeland EMS took the man to Mid Coast Medical Center in Crockett, which lists its address as 1100 E. Loop 304, where he was later pronounced dead, per the hospital’s website.
Investigators with Houston County and assisting agencies continue to review physical evidence and interview witnesses. Authorities have not released any additional information about the alleged abuse or the suspect’s identity.
