An accused Oregon murderer fled cops and busted out of a courthouse in a daring escape during his pretrial last month.
Edi Villalobos, 28, who was charged in the 2021 slaying of 33-year-old Artemio Guzman-Olvera, fled the Washington County Courthouse during the jury selection process on February 27.
Security cameras inside the courthouse caught two officers escorting Villalobos into the courtroom before sitting him down in a chair, removing both his leg shackles and handcuffs.
State law requires all accused persons to be unshackled while in front of a jury so that the restraints do not taint the jurors’ decision.
“Those were removed because of Oregon law,” said Washington County Sheriff’s Communications Sgt. Danny DiPietro. “When someone’s in a trial, and any of the proceedings that goes along with it, including jury selection, Oregon law requires us to remove those restraints, and we did that, obviously.”
Deputies unshackle Edi Villalobos after returning to the courtroom on Feb. 27, 2023. Washington County Sheriff's Office (Oregon)
Villalobos made a dash for it after being unshackled from his restraints. Washington County Sheriff's Office (Oregon)It took a matter of seconds for Villalobos to return to his criminal ways.
He quickly stood up and darted for the door in the back of the room, racing through the first-floor hallways and out a staff-only entrance of the courthouse, as two deputies chased after him.
A two-hour manhunt ensued for Villalobos, forcing a shelter-in-place message to be sent out to local residents.
Edi Villalobos was originally facing a second-degree murder charge along with unlawful use of a weapon. Washington County Sheriff's Office (Oregon)Police had caught a glimpse of Villalobos twice, each resulting in foot pursuits, but he was able to get away both times, according to NBC affiliate KGW.
Sheriff’s deputies searched for the man with the help of drones, K-9 units and two local police departments, according to a press release.
Law enforcement was tipped by a resident of an apartment complex about a man attempting to break into a door and found Villalobos hiding under a blanket inside an empty apartment around 1:45 p.m.
Security cameras caught Villalobos exiting the courtroom as he made his daring escape. Washington County Sheriff's Office (Oregon)Villalobos was scheduled to stand trial in early March for the fatal stabbing of Guzman-Olvera on April 10, 2021, and a second stabbing that left another man in critical condition, according to KGW.
He has also been accused of critically stabbing a second, unrelated man later in the day.
Villalobos, who was facing several charges including second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon, will have several others tacked on for his daring escape from court, including escape in the second degree and another burglary charge.
No jurors were in the courtroom at the time of the escape, and Villalobos was returned to Washington County jail following his arrest and will be awaiting the restart of his trial.
Villalobos ran through the courthouse and out a staff-only entrance door on Feb. 27, 2023. Washington County Sheriff's Office (Oregon)
Villalobos was on the loose for over 2 hours before he was caught. Washington County Sheriff's Office (Oregon)It is unclear if Villalobos will be restrained when the jury reconvenes, as the Oregon law still stands.
“I imagine they’re going to push for the hearing to allow restraints to be on during his trial when it comes up,” DePietro said. “But that is for the courts, the DA’s office, and court security to go through that process.”
