The FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and local officials are actively searching for 31-year-old Charles Alan Dyer of Duncan, Oklahoma.
Dyer -- a former Marine accused of raping a young girl in his home state -- is wanted by the FBI for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
According to officials, Dyer was set to appear in court last week on the felony child rape charge, but he never showed up.
Federal investigators were led to Austin County this weekend. They searched for Dyer all day Sunday to no avail.
Sheriff's deputies in Fort Bend County joined the manhunt Monday after several Wallis-area residents reported that a man matching Dyer's description was knocking on doors asking for a ride to Houston.
"My older brother had him there. He was knocking on his window," witness Greg Hatton said. "When I pulled up, for example, first I called him to see if that's him, hold him. That's the guy we're looking for, hold him. And we're always armed. We're concealed gun licensed carriers and he had him right at the point there, but he took off running. And when he took off running he ran across this track here, went to my neighbor's house and asked him for a ride."
Authorities are continuing to search the area near Texas 36 along the railroad tracks, which stretch all the way to Rosenberg. Officials said the search party is fanning out to cover more ground.
Dyer should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees anything suspicious or has any information regarding his whereabouts should contact their local law enforcement agency, their local FBI office or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. You may remain anonymous.
Please stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for updates as new information becomes available.
