California homeowner found prison escapee, leading to his capture
PLACER COUNTY, Calif. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - A California suspect who escaped from a Northern California medical facility on Sunday has been captured following a massive manhunt.
From his own backyard, Bill Sanchez saw the murder suspect, Eric Abril, at the center of a massive manhunt, at about noon.
"I looked over the edge...at the creek. I do it five times a day and there wasn't an orange jumpsuit two hours ago, and there was an orange jumpsuit laying right there on the ground and then I could hear some splashing in the water," Sanchez detailed.
Sanchez says he immediately went to call 911.
"Oh, [I went] straight back in the house...I said 'We've got the guy. He's gotta be right here. We've got him,'" Sanchez shared.
On edge
Law enforcement showed up to his Rocklin home on Zion Court minutes later.
"There was probably what...over 20 guys with guns drawn, standing on this deck looking over this fence at the time," Sanchez shared.
Looking over at Abril, found in his boxers with the chain around his waist still leftover from the restraints, he was able to get out of during his escape from Sutter Roseville Medical Center (SRMC) after 3:00am Sunday.
The more than 24 hour search, as he roamed the neighborhood, had people in the area on edge.
"Terrified. My mom has lived here for 40 years lots of sheds and...lots of hiding spots," said one Rocklin resident.
Abril's capture
As seen in the video attached to the article, Antelope Creek, where Abril was captured, is covered in trees.
But ultimately, it was Abril's bright orange jail pants and Sanchez' vigilance that helped lead to Abril's capture.
