Missing man found alive in Fort Worth

A 45-year-old man who walked out of the Madison County Jail last month and vanished has been found alive in Fort Worth, according to the Madison County Sheriff's Office.

Samuel Gebrekirstos Zerea got out Saturday, Feb. 28. The Madisonville Police Department had picked him up two days before on a Class C misdemeanor, deputies said.

Zerea left on foot that day, heading east toward Interstate 45. Cameras at businesses along the way caught him turning north once he hit the highway. That was the last anyone saw of him.

It took a couple weeks before somebody raised the alarm. A friend went to the Sheriff's Office on Saturday, March 14 and filed a missing person report, according to deputies.

Zerea isn't local. He's got ties to Houston and Harris County, the Sheriff's Office said. Originally from Eritrea, he also has family up in Canada. Deputies said they'd been working with Interpol on the case before he turned up.

People who know him told deputies he's dealt with mental health disorders and isn't on any medication. They said he's non-violent.