A Dripping Springs teen who had been on the run after assaulting his mother last week was finally caught by authorities in Illinois after leading them on a brief car chase, according to a Hays County Sheriff’s Office press release.
But authorities are unsure when they can extradite William Michael Bryars, 17, of Dripping Springs, back to Texas to face his crimes.
Bryars, according to the release, is accused of attacking his mother, who was identified as Kathy Ann Bryars, 53, Jan. 18 at their home in Dripping Springs. According to the release, Bryars allegedly beat his mother with a hammer, then stabbed her with a screwdriver. A motive for the crime is unknown at this time.
Bryars then allegedly fled the scene with his mother’s 2012 black 2-door Nissan Altima.
An Alton, Ill., Fire Department paramedic, left, wheels 17-year-old William Michael Bryars, handcuffed to a stretcher, to a waiting ambulance Friday morning January 20, 2017, after he crashed the Nissan Altima he was driving into a untility pole, ending a high speed chase through Alton by U.S. Marshals and Alton Police. (photo by John Badman/The Telegraph)
The incident, which garnered state-wide attention, turned into a manhunt as authorities across the state searched for Bryars, who, according to authorities, was headed to Missouri. On Jan. 18, Hays County Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Terry Kyle issued warrants against Bryars for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which is a first-degree felony and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, which is a state jail felony.
On Friday, officers with the Alton, Ill. police department arrested Bryars after he attempted to evade them and subsequently wrecked his vehicle, according to a release.
Bryars suffered minor injuries in the accident and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The vehicle he was driving was the black Altima he is accused of stealing from his mother.
The HCSO was notified of Bryars’ arrest by the police in Alton, which is located 24 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri.
It’s unknown at this time if charges will be filed by Alton Police.
The case remains under investigation.
