Update on arrest of Christopher Padgett who ran during his trial

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The man who took off in the middle of his murder trial is now back in custody.

Chattanooga police say they helped capture 22-year-old Christopher Padgett early Friday morning.

Padgett was on the state’s Top 10 Most Wanted List, and on the run for about two weeks.

“They’re desperate. They’re in a bad spot. And it’s just a matter of when, not if,” said Sgt. Steve Campbell, Chattanooga police department.

Chattanooga police knew it was just a matter of time before they’d capture Padgett.

Law enforcement officers from several agencies found him at a home on South Street in Chattanooga.

“He was inside the residence, hiding under a mattress, and he was with another known gang member,” Campbell said.

That gang member is 21-year-old Javonte Wynn, who police say Padgett has known for years.

They’re now charging Wynn with evading arrest, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Padgett cut off his ankle monitor two days into his murder trial.

It continued without him, and the jury convicted Padgett of first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery.

But investigators believe Padgett didn’t go far these past couple of weeks.

“There’s no indications that he left the Chattanooga area,” Campbell said. “A lot of these guys, they don’t have the means. It takes money to get out of town. It takes vehicles to get out of town, and it appears he didn’t have the means and connections to get out of town.”

Both law enforcement and prosecutors say they’re just glad to have Padgett back behind bars.

“It feels good, but now it’s on to the next one,” Campbell said. “We have a long list of guys that need to go to jail, and we’ll be happy to help them.”

Padgett is being held in the Hamilton County jail.

He’s been sentenced to life in prison for killing taxi cab driver Nathan Deere in a robbery back in 2012.

Padgett’s sentencing hearing on the aggravated robbery conviction will be December 15.