Sex offender manhunt ends in surrender
By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER
An Austin man who has been evading police since 2009 turned himself in to the Caldwell County Jail on Tuesday after a manhunt that spanned two states.
Edmundo Berrum-Beltran, 47, surrendered after a game of cat-and-mouse led authorities from Austin to Lockhart, then to Grannis, Ark.
Berrum was wanted in connection
with a warrant issued in March 2009, and faced several counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and Indecency with a Child by Contact. At the time, he was thought to be living on Pecos Street in Lockhart.
According to US Marshal Hector Gomez, who heads up the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, the spotlight turned on Berrum when the Task Force introduced a cold case initiative in July. That initiative is directed toward actively investigating violent fugitives wanted for homicide, robberies, assaults and in particular, sexual offenses.
Investigation into Berrum’s past activities revealed that he has lived in Lockhart on and off for several years. His charges stem from an allegation that he sexually abused a male child in Mexico. The victim moved with his family to Travis County, where Berrum eventually relocated. The victim alleges that the abuse continued after Berrum arrived in Texas.
Conversations with Berrum’s family and known associates led the Task Force to Lockhart, where the suspect was allegedly seen on Pearl Street within the last few weeks. He then was said to have left the area for Arkansas.
An associate allegedly tipped Berrum that authorities were on the way to Arkansas to apprehend him, and he fled the area, apparently returning to Texas.
“As the circle of family and friends became entangled in a hindering apprehension investigation, Berrum’s flight ended when he surrendered… on Tuesday afternoon,” Gomez said.
The investigation into Berrum’s activities, particularly those in Central Texas continues, and anyone with information about any other victims or illegal activities he may have been involved in is encouraged to contact the authorities at once.
It sounds like there should be other forthcoming arrests for those that participated in aiding his “escape” from arrest. Shame on people that “help” in this manner.