Trevor McEuen, a 32-year-old capital murder suspect on Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, was arrested early Monday in Van Zandt County after a month-long manhunt, the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office announced.
McEuen, who skipped a May 5 court appearance for the 2023 killing of Aaron Martinez, 35, in Forney, was taken into custody without incident following an hours-long SWAT standoff at his grandparent’s home, where he was allegedly hiding under the house.
“His grandmother is in her 90s. From what I’m hearing, he was hiding under the house and was hiding from her as well,” said McEuen’s attorney, Abigail Spain, per CBS 11. “So, I am hopeful that they would not be facing any charges for this. I don’t believe that they were aiding and abetting.”
The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office posted a photo on social media showing McEuen, barefoot and mud-covered, in a police vehicle. Authorities located him through weeks of investigative work and surveillance, with assistance from the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“This arrest is the result of relentless and coordinated efforts by law enforcement personnel who worked around the clock to ensure that this dangerous individual was brought back into custody,” Sheriff Bryan Beavers said. “The safety of our community was at stake, and we are proud of the partnership and professionalism displayed by every agency involved.”
McEuen faces charges including capital murder by terror threat, five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, arson, bail jumping, and failure to appear. He is held in Kaufman County Jail, with no bond amount listed as of Monday afternoon. Authorities are investigating whether anyone knowingly aided McEuen while he was a fugitive.
Martinez’s family told CBS News Texas that McEuen had previously threatened Martinez, fired at his property, and made racially charged remarks, though Martinez did not pursue charges at the time.
McEuen allegedly shot Martinez multiple times on May 1, 2023, and admitted to the murder after a SWAT standoff. Initially arrested that month, McEuen was released on a $1 million bond in September 2024 but violated conditions by posting photos of Martinez and his relatives on Instagram. Released again on a $2 million bond in December, he cut off his ankle monitor at 5:33 a.m. on May 5, 2025, and allegedly set a house on fire before fleeing.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had offered a $30,000 reward for information leading to McEuen’s arrest, but the Texas DPS said the reward would not be paid. A news conference on the arrest is expected, though details about the standoff’s duration remain undisclosed.