Where Is Ethan Couch? ‘Affluenza’ Teen MIA, Thought To Be On The Run

Ethan Couch, the 18-year-old “affluenza” teen who was convicted in the drunk driving manslaughter of four people, has gone missing and is suspected to be on the run, possibly with his mother, according to reports from CNN. Many people would like to know the answer to the question: Where is Ethan Couch? A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

On June 15th, 2013, Shelby Boyles and her mother, Hollie, were helping their friend Breanna Mitchell, whose vehicle had broken down some distance from home. A pastor named Brian Jennings happened by the scene and also stopped to offer his assistance. Ethan Couch drove into the group while drunk and killed them all.

Earlier in the evening, Ethan Couch and some of his buddies had stolen beer from a Walmart near Fort Worth, Texas. Two of his friends were thrown from the vehicle in the wreck, with one sustaining serious injuries. That teen’s parents sued Ethan’s family for $2 million.

At the criminal trial, a psychologist who had studied Couch professed a belief that the then-16-year-old suffered from “affluenza,” a fact which outraged many who found the claim to be spurious. The fact that Ethan Couch was given a sentence of 10 years probation and no jail time may have served to compound this fact.

Psychologist Gary Buffone was quoted as stating that Ethan Couch’s “affluenza” was not so much a diagnosis, but more a euphemism for “spoiled brats,” according to The Inquisitr.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of #EthanCouch please call 817-884-1213 pic.twitter.com/cGfe9DdW02

— Tarrant County SO (@tarrantcountyso) December 16, 2015

“We are now investigating his whereabouts and the whereabouts of his mother,” Samantha Jordan with the district attorney’s office was quoted with regard to the possibility of Ethan Couch being on the run, by Yahoo News. “The supervision is under juvenile court, but if there was an ultimate violation, juvenile prosecutors are part of our office. We don’t know that they have committed any crime, but we certainly are interested in their whereabouts.”

Reportedly, Ethan Couch had been in good standing with his probation officer, and still would be, if he hadn’t gone missing one week ago, as reported by Newsone.

A video uploaded to social media on December 2 purported to show Couch drinking beer, possibly violating his probation. Authorities aren’t even sure that it’s even Ethan Couch in the video or when the video was shot, and they state that it may have been harmless — they did, however, wish to speak with him about it — though now Ethan Couch is missing.

https://twitter.com/BlondeSpectre/status/672170442455576576

Sheriff of Tarrant County, Dee Anderson, was quoted by CBS as stating that he wouldn’t be surprised if Ethan had fled the United States with his mother. According to Anderson, evidence leads police to believe that Couch has been away from his residence for several days and that he and his mother have enough money to flee. The sheriff issued a promise to Couch that “We’re going to find you, wherever you are.”

Anderson was reported to have been critical of the sentence given to Couch at the time.

“I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so,” Sheriff Anderson was quoted. The FBI and U.S. Marshalls are reported to have joined the investigation and search.

“Four people were hit and killed, and no one was held responsible,” president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Colleen Sheehey-Church was quoted. She spoke of Ethan Couch showing a “blatant” disregard for the law and stated a belief that he must be “held accountable,” stating that the families of the victim’s of Couch’s actions will “never get their loved ones back.”

The president of the national group against senseless drunk driving deaths described the “affluenza” teen’s conduct as “egregious.”

[AP Photo/LM Otero]