Law

‘Affluenza’ Teen Ethan Couch on the Run, Missing Mom Presumed Helping

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A six-second video of a game of beer pong has lead to an arrest warrant and  intensive manhunt for Ethan Couch, the famed “affluenza teen” who avoided jail time two years ago for the drunk-driving deaths of four people because he was rich.

Couch, 18, missed an appointment with his probation officer on December 10, leading authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest. Now authorities believe his mother, Tonya, is helping to hide him after he was labeled a missing person on nationwide databases Monday.

The decision to run comes just a few weeks after the beer pong video surfaced on social media, showing Couch partying with others. The video alone isn’t proof of Couch violating his probation since the teen isn’t seen drinking, but an investigation into the incident may have caused him to flee.

Couch was 16-years-old when a drunken joyride with his friends ended with him mowing down a young woman changing a flat tire and the three pedestrians who stopped to help her. His lawyer used expert testimony from a psychologist to convince a judge that he was unable to appreciate the consequences of his actions because he suffered from “affluenza,” thanks to a whole lot of money and bad parenting.

Instead of serving jail time, the Texas teen was sentenced to therapy at a long-term in-patient facility and 10 years of probation. But for many, the sentence only perpetuated Couch’s lack of accountability and offered no justice for his victims.

Now authorities are offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with information leading to an arrest. Unfortunately it’s unclear exactly how long he has been at large, and due to the family’s considerable financial resources, the pair could have already fled the country.

The whole situation just reeks of irony. A judge avoided a tough sentence that would have held him accountable for four people’s deaths, because he doesn’t have a history of being held accountable. It just doesn’t make sense. If authorities are able to capture Couch and his mother, hopefully they won’t get away with yet another slap on the wrist.

Alexis Evans
Alexis Evans
Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.
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