KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In mid-October, Sean Williams escaped federal custody while facing charges of producing child sexual abuse material and a count of distributing cocaine. Authorities spent around a month searching for him before Williams was spotted in Florida while at a convenience store.
"He is definitely a very dangerous kind of human being," said David Jolley, a U.S. Marshal. "We couldn't do what we do unless there are good citizens out there who are willing to do the right thing, like the store clerk who had seen it on the news and made the right call."
Before his escape, Jolley said Williams had been wanted for nearly two years on federal charges before he was initially captured a few months ago. Authorities had been investigating Williams for years, and Jolley said Williams was found in possession of several videos of women he had sexually attacked.
One of Williams' alleged victims is Mikayla Evans. She said he assaulted her more than three years ago and lived in fear while he was on the run.
"I guess, in a way, I kind of lived in fear and, maybe, thinking him or somebody would ever come to my house or to other victims," said Evans.
Williams was on the run for around 34 days. However, authorities said they believed he spent most of his time in Tennessee.
Authorities said they were able to track down Williams through a stolen truck. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation initially said he was spotted in Sylva, North Carolina. Then, on Nov. 21, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said he was spotted in Pinellas County, Florida.
The county is located along Florida's western shore near Tampa and includes areas like St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
"We're starting to figure out now, we were probably very close to him numerous times and just missed him as he was trying to, you know, operate as best he could," said Jolley.
His victims and law enforcement alike hope Williams never escapes custody again. He will be extradited back to Tennessee to face charges.
"I'll probably never find out what happened to me, and I guess I've learned to be okay with that, in a way. Just as long as everybody can get justice, I'm okay with it, because at least I know one monster went away," said Evans.