Whitchurch escaped from the John Lilley Correctional Center in Boley, Okla., in April 1986. He was serving the third year of a 15-year manslaughter sentence when he went on the run.
The marshals in Texas and task force officials received a tip from U.S. Marshals in Oklahoma that led them to the trailer in Spring where Whitchurch was living.
"Whitchurch he was definitely surprised as to how we found him," said Deputy U.S. Marshal Alfredo Perez.
Whitchurch initially denied his identity but recanted, Perez said.
Whitchurch, who was being held in the Harris County Jail, is awaiting extradition back to Oklahoma to face escape charges. He had not yet been assigned an attorney.
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