Escaped GA Inmate Re-Captured After 12 Hours On The Run: Sheriff

ACWORTH, GA — A man facing child molestation charges is back in custody after authorities say he escaped from the Troup County Jail and traveled to Acworth on Sunday

It was around 9:30 a.m. when jail staff discovered inmate Christian Joel-Marcos Cortez, 20, was not accounted for inside the jail, the Troup County Sheriff's Office said.

Through an investigation, authorities said they determined Cortez went through an outer door and climbed an exterior fence before leaving the jail property.

Troup investigators were alerted that Cortez may have traveled to Acworth; and nearly 12 hours later, authorities said the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office took Cortez into custody around 9:15 p.m. in Acworth.

Authorities did not say how Cortez was able to travel to Acworth. They also did not say if any suspected accomplices are facing charges.

Cortez was taken back to Troup, and authorities said they have launched an internal probe into the jail escape.

Troup County Jail records on Monday showed Cortez is facing an additional escape charge.

"Our appreciation to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the LaGrange Police Department, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Corrections, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, along with GEMA for their assistance in this case," authorities said in a news release.