GRIMES COUNTY, Texas – The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a Grimes County inmate who escaped from the Cypress Creek Behavioral Hospital Monday morning.
Scott Evan Shepple, who was facing multiple charges including sexual assault and continuous violence against a family member, was last seen at the hospital located at 17750 Cali Drive around 8:45 a.m.
The manhunt includes Texas DPS and the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force.
According to the Grimes County Sheriff, Shepple tried to commit suicide by hanging himself early Sunday morning.
@HCSOTexas deputies are responding to the 17700 blk of Cali. A Grimes County Sheriff’s Office unit had transported one of their inmates to a facility for a treatment visit. The inmate escaped from the facility this morning at approximately 8:45am.
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) March 31, 2025
1/3 pic.twitter.com/SFWzB7EVrQ
Shepple was transported to the behavioral hospital from the Grimes County Jail where he had been in custody since his arrest on December 4, 2024.
Shepple, described as a white man with blue eyes, standing 5′5″ and weighing 175 pounds. Records show he has also been to state prison following burglary, theft, and drug convictions.
Authorities said Shepple is suicidal and has violent tendencies.
“He has made statements in regard to ‘suicide by cop’,” the news release read.
Shepple currently has warrants out in Grimes and Brazoria Counties.
Authorities say they have received information about what they believe is a credible sighting of Shepple from between 11:15 a.m. and noon Monday. The tip they received is he was spotted walking on the shoulder of I-45 near Spring Cypress Road headed north towards the Montgomery County line.
Investigators are still trying to figure out how Shepple was able to get out of the facility.
“Earlier today, one of the individuals in our care left the premises. We are working with the Grimes County Police Department and all involved law enforcement agencies involved to locate the individual and return the person safely. Due to HIPAA patient privacy laws, we cannot offer further comment on specific patients or their care,” Cypress Creek Hospital CEO Amanda Vail wrote in an email to KPRC 2.
She has not answered follow up questions about how the escape happened or if any procedures are now under review, but the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office said they have worked with the hospital in the past without issue.
Shepple has known ties to Grimes, Trinity, and Walker counties, the sheriff’s office said.
Anyone with information about Shepple’s whereabouts should immediately contact Grimes County Sheriff’s Office at 936-873-2151, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 713-221-6000, or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS.