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A murder suspect who evaded authorities for nearly two weeks across Central Texas, including Bastrop County communities, was captured after a foot chase with state troopers last week, officials said.
Severiano Valdonado, wanted out of Karnes County, was tracked to Smithville and through Bastrop by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office and Smithville Police Department. He was found camping along the river in downtown Austin early Oct. 1, according to the Karnes County Sheriff’s Office.
Members of the Texas Department of Public Safety Bicycle Patrol Unit initially approached the man for camping in violation of the city’s homeless abatement program. Upon contact, troopers identified him as Valdonado.
He reportedly tried to flee but was captured after a short chase and subdued with a taser, authorities said. Valdonado was medically evaluated and booked into the Travis County Jail, where he awaits extradition to Karnes County.
The case began Sept. 18 with the shooting death of 23-year-old Michelle Janssen in Runge. Valdonado, who had reportedly been dating Janssen, gave chase after being identified as a suspect.
His capture followed a multi-agency investigation that tracked him from Karnes County through Bastrop, Fayette and Wilson counties before ending in Austin. Agencies involved included the Karnes County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Texas Department of Public Safety, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
