Teen Who Killed 4, Received Probation With ‘Affluenza’ Defense Back in Custody After Breaking Parole

A teen who was given probation after killing four people in 2013 under the ludicrous defense of being too rich is back in custody after violating his parole weeks ago and fleeing to Mexico with his mother.

Ethan Couch, now 18, was convicted of four counts of intoxicated manslaughter after a drunk-driving accident two years ago, but was not sentenced to jail time when a psychologist argued Couch was unable to grasp the consequences of his actions because of his “affluent upbringing,” a defense that became known as “affluenza.”

Couch was sentenced to 10 years probation, a sentence that sparked outrage from the victim’s families and online commentators alike.

But in early December, video surfaced online of Couch partying with friends, an apparent violation of his parole. Couch and his mother went missing shortly after.

From Good Morning America:

“Authorities were concerned that he allegedly missed a check-in with a probation officer and may have skipped town or the country and a juvenile judge issued a “directive to apprehend” on Dec. 11.”

On Monday, authorities for the Jalisco state prosecutor’s officer confirmed Couch and his mother were apprehended in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Officials in the Tarrant County, Texas, District Attorney’s office also confirmed Couch and his mother were in Mexican custody.

Both have been transferred to immigration authorities and are on route to Guadalajara to be returned to the U.S.

Hopefully this kid will finally get some of the punishment he rightly deserved the first time he faced a judge.