Texas authorities are banking again on the draw of the dollar. We believe these are the same people who helped them make good on the escape. The seven convicts have been on the run since Dec. 13, when they broke out of the state prison at Kenedy in South Texas. Authorities believe the group is hiding out in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with others helping them obtain food and shelter.
Authorities expect the reward to increase as long as the convicts are on the loose.
As it does, the likelihood will go up that authorities will get a good lead on the escapees' whereabouts, said Tory Caeti, a criminology professor at the University of North Texas. There will probably be a lot of people hoping to cash in, but it also puts pressure on whoever may be helping those guys to turn them in as well. It's a good temptation. Caeti said that any tip leading to the convicts' arrest likely will come from someone who knows someone helping the convicts and knows where they are. There's even a possibility that one of the seven escapees might break rank and give up information to avoid the death penalty, he said.