Inmate who escaped from Bellville hospital weeks ago shot himself in head as authorities approached

CONROE, Texas (KTRK) -- An inmate who escaped from Bellville Hospital back in January is back in official custody after spending close to a month on the run.

Salvador Saucedo, who was added to Texas' 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders List last week, was located at a house in Richards, Texas, in eastern Grimes County early Tuesday morning.

Waller County Sheriff Troy Guidry confirmed that Saucedo was located at a home that belonged to his girlfriend. Saucedo suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was taken to a Conroe-area hospital.

The 37-year-old is a convicted sex offender from Bryan and has been wanted out of Gonzales County since March 2024 for indecency with a child by sexual contact.

According to the Waller County Sheriff's Office, while being treated, Saucedo managed to get a piece of wire from inside the hospital TV remote. He apparently used it to pick the locks. Saucedo took off on foot when the deputy went to the restroom.

Hospital staff immediately notified the deputy, who gave chase. Officials say the deputy couldn't catch up, and they conducted a multi-agency manhunt with K-9s, drones, air support, and marked and unmarked units.

What investigators didn't know until a week after the escape was that Saucedo apparently stole a work truck from a nearby construction zone and drove it to Richards, Texas, where he had been hiding out for weeks.

The investigation identified Saucedo's route of escape from the hospital to the north end of N. Granville Street, where the area is rural and unpopulated.

Sheriff Guidry said this morning, a school resource officer noticed a fire at the girlfriend's home. When the officer approached, he saw a man inside the window. That man turned out to be Saucedo, who apparently shot himself in the head when law enforcement got closer.

Saucedo's girlfriend has been taken into custody for allegations that she was harboring a fugitive.

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