Captured: WMW viewers spot wanted child rapist hiding behind gas station in Spanaway
SPANAWAY - Thanks to two very brave Washington's Most Wanted viewers, convicted child rapist Theodore Burnett was caught this afternoon. Deputies took him to the hospital to be checked out for a medical condition. He is under guard.
The tipsters called 911 and said they spotted Burnett behind a Chevron gas station in the 14300 block of Yakima Ave. S. in Spanaway. "We saw him coming out of the gas station. He went in the bushes and chugged a beer. Started to walk toward Home depot and then he saw a Pierce county vehicle stopped at the light and went straight back into the bushes. That just confirmed my suspicion. We drove around to the Cash America parking lot to make sure he didn't get out of sight and that's where Pierce County picked them up. What a rush! High fives and handshakes all around!" said the anonymous tipsters.
Burnett was wanted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. In 1994, he was convicted of Sex Abuse 1st Degree and Sodomy 1st Degree in Linn County Oregon. He had sexually abused an 8 year old girl on at least two separate occasions. That same year, he was also convicted of another count of Sex Abuse 1st Degree. The victim was a 9 year old girl. In 1978, Burnett was convicted of Rape 3rd Degree. He sexually assaulted a 12 year old girl and got her pregnant. "He did not participate in sex offender treatment, so he has not had any help other than being incarcerated." said Det. Troyer.
Burnett is WMW Capture #765.
TACOMA -- The hunt is on for a level 3 sex offender in Pierce County, the worst of the worst.
Deputies are asking for help finding Theodore Burnett. He is wanted for failure to register as sex offender.
"This is a guy we want really bad. His victims were 8 and 10 years old. He's threatened to kill them if they tell anybody," said Det. Ed Troyer with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
In 1994, Burnett was convicted of Sex Abuse 1st Degree and Sodomy 1st Degree in Linn County Oregon. He had sexually abused an 8 year old girl on at least two separate occasions. That same year, he was also convicted of another count of Sex Abuse 1st Degree. The victim was a 9 year old girl.
In 1978, Burnett was convicted of Rape 3rd Degree. He sexually assaulted a 12 year old girl and got her pregnant.
"He did not participate in sex offender treatment, so he has not had any help other than being incarcerated. He's gone off the grid and we need to find out where he's at and get him back in jail," said Det. Troyer.
Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to Burnett's arrest. If you know where deputies can find him, call the hot line anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.