Escaped fugitive Steven Woodson was apprehended at the Jonesburg Cemetery around 12:30 p.m. on July 10 after escaping from custody on the evening of July 8. 

Woodson was being transported from Douglas County, Nebraska back to Orange County, North Carolina by Midwest Special Services, a private transportation company out of Curtis, Nebraska. Woodson was originally arrested in North Carolina on charges of possession of a weapon by a felon, carrying a concealed weapon, resisting arrest, violation of a protection order, financial identity fraud and two counts of breaking and entering.. He was transported to Nebraska to testify in a case in which he was an assault victim from 2022. 

He escaped custody at the eastbound rest stop on Interstate 70 in Wright City.  

According to a probable cause statement issued along with the warrant for Woodson’s arrest, Woodson had a colostomy bag that ruptured while he was being transported. 

Transporters from Midwest Special Services, a transport company from Curtis, Nebraska, pulled over to the rest stop to allow Woodson to clean himself in the bathroom, in the process they had placed both of his handcuffs on one wrist. When they were attempting to replace the handcuffs, Woodson managed to slip free and escaped by throwing a cane he had been using for a feigned injury at the transporters, according to the probable cause statement. 

Wright City Lieutenant Aaron Sutton said both of the transporters with Midwest Special Services were unarmed at the time of Woodson’s escape. 

The transporters then called to report the crime and Wright City police responded at the rest stop at 8:39 p.m. that evening. Other law enforcement agencies such as the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Warren County Sheriff’s Department were not far behind. 

While the officers established a perimeter and canvassed the area and a drone was deployed by the Wright City Fire Protection District, they were not able to locate Woodson that evening. 

The following morning, a warrant was issued for Woodson’s arrest and the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force joined the investigation, according to Sutton. He said they started reaching out to known associates of Woodson to learn his tendencies and try to narrow the search to areas where he may be hiding. 

There was no news of Woodson’s whereabouts until Jonesburg police officer Ron McBride received a call from a concerned citizen stating that they believed they had seen Woodson walking down Railroad Street in Jonesburg. 

McBride reported that Woodson had been asking passers-by for a ride and that he found the fugitive in the Jonesburg cemetery. 

“He was pretty tanked when I got to him,” McBride said. 

At that point Woodson had traveled roughly 15 miles from where he escaped in Wright City. McBride said the fugitive was exhausted when he confronted him. 

“It was honestly one of the easiest arrests I’ve ever made,” Mcbride said. 

From there McBride detained Woodson and called the Warren County Sheriff’s Department for transport. 

Sheriff’s deputies then transported him to Mercy Hospital in Washington for treatment where he reportedly denied he was the fugitive before admitting his identity under questioning from Detective James Holmes according to Sutton. 

Woodson is now being held in the Warren County Jail on charges of escaping from custody.

Wright City board members took time to thank their police department for their hard work in handling the situation, although Sutton extended thanks to the other law enforcement agencies involved in the case and to community members for their understanding. 

“We extend our thanks and gratitude to the participating agencies and communities,” Sutton said. 

A representative from Midwest Special Services could not be reached for comment.