Teen who admitted to rape of 72-year-old in Horry County found after escaping custody
An Horry County teen sentenced to decades in prison for the attack and rape of a 72-year-old was found 12 hours after escaping custody.
The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice officials announced late Wednesday that Nicholas Rios, 16, escaped from a juvenile detention facility in the Columbia area. Around noon Thursday, the department said Rios was apprehended.
He was found about seven miles from the detention facility, officials said.
A judge sentenced Rios as an adult to 35 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to attempted murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal sexual assault and kidnapping a 72-year-old woman in the Surfside Beach area.
South Carolina Department of Corrections Spokeswoman Chrysti Shain previously told The Sun News that anyone who is 16 years old or younger is initially sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice until they turn 17. Once they turn 17, they are transferred to another prison where they are housed with other 17 years olds.
At 18, the inmate moves to the general prison population.
Police arrested Rios as a juvenile for the July attack, but he was transferred to adult status in November. According to the police report, the incident was initially reported as a “fall,” but EMS requested police after they deemed it suspicious.
The 72-year-old woman had significant injuries, according to the report. On the way to the hospital, the victim said she was attacked in her home by an intruder.
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 11:27 PM with the headline "Teen who admitted to rape of 72-year-old in Horry County found after escaping custody."
