The efforts of Laredo US Marshals, the Texas Rangers and Duval County Sheriff's deputies paid off. They say Abel Morin -- a dangerous convicted sex offender -- is back in custody. Morin had just started to serve five life terms in prison, when he took off through an unlocked jail door on Feb. 5, 2008.
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Abel Morin had just gotten his handcuffs, belly chain and shackles removed at the Jim Hogg County Jail and was was about to begin serving five concurrent life terms for sex crimes.
But cops say Morin noticed that a door was open, and took off running. A full-scale manhunt is underway for this man, who was convicted in November for raping a mother and her daughter, and taking off with the young woman, raping her again and leaving her in the brush.
Cops say Morin is a member of the violent Mexican Mafia and has tattoos all over his body. They don't know where Morin is hiding, but say he is a native of Duval County, Texas and has also lived in California.
After a week of intensive searching for Abel Morin, U.S. Marshals, Texas Rangers and Sheriff's Deputies from the Duval Co. Sheriff's Office feel a sense of relief.
They say a tip sent officers to a house in Morin's hometown of San Diego, Texas and at midnight on Feb. 13, 2008 the fugitive stepped out, not knowing officers were waiting for him.
The arrest comes a week after Morin escaped from Jim Hogg County Jail through an unlocked door.