Deputies searching for escaped juveniles, one still at large

Published 11:14 am Wednesday, August 2, 2023

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Troup County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating an incident where two teens escaped from a youth rehabilitation center. One of the subjects has been taken back into custody and the other remains at large as of Wednesday morning.

Sheriff’s deputies were looking for the juveniles in the area of Chase Rd. near Pricilla Drive just outside of LaGrange around 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

According to TCSO Public Information Officer Sgt. Stewart Smith, the teens escaped from Carpenter’s Way Ranch in Cataula, Georgia. The facility is a maximum oversight facility for boys from eight to 18 years old, which sometimes gets referrals from juvenile justice.

Smith said that one of the subjects has been apprehended and they are still looking for the other. He said the second teen is barefoot, so he likely won’t get far.

Smith also confirmed that a gunshot had been fired during the incident, which they are still investigating. He said he is currently unsure if the gun was fired at someone or how it went off.

No details on how the teens escaped have been released at this time.

The names of the subjects are being withheld due to their juvenile status.