Three of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Back in Custody

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announces three of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted are back in custody following their recent arrests. Authorities arrested Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives Christopher Garay on Nov. 29 and Johnny Wilson on Dec. 2. Michael Petterson, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender, was arrested on Nov. 27. Crime Stoppers rewards will be paid in Garay’s and Wilson’s arrests.

Christopher Joshua Garay, 35, was taken into custody in San Antonio. Following up on tip information, members of the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force—including DPS Special Agents—and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Office of the Inspector General (TDCJ OIG), located and arrested him.

In 2011, Garay was convicted of five counts of aggravated robbery and subsequently sentenced to 18 years confinement for each count. In 2018, he was released on parole from TDCJ. Garay had been wanted since January 2024, when a warrant was issued for his arrest out of Bexar Co. for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Additionally, in February 2024, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a parole warrant for his arrest.

Johnny Leon Wilson, 54, was taken into custody in Grand Prairie. Following up on tip information, members of the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force—including DPS Special Agents—Fort Worth Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Mansfield Police Department and TDCJ OIG, located and arrested him.

In 2019, Wilson was arrested by the Houston Police Department for murder. He subsequently bonded out with an ankle monitor, which he later either damaged or removed. Wilson had been wanted since February 2023, when the Harris County Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for his arrest for murder.

Michael Wayne Petterson, 55, a high-risk sex offender, was taken into custody in Dayton. Working off investigative information, DPS Special Agents and Troopers, along with the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office and members of the U.S. Marshals Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force, located and arrested him.

In 1991, Petterson was convicted of aggravated sexual assault following an incident with a 17-year-old female. He was subsequently sentenced to 10 years confinement. In 2003, Petterson was convicted of harassment. In 2008, he was convicted of failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements and subsequently sentenced to five years probation. In 2014, he was convicted of assault of a family/household member by impeding breath/circulation and subsequently sentenced to five years probation. Petterson had been wanted since November 2023, when the San Augustine County Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for his arrest for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements.

Funded by the Governor’s Public Safety Office, Texas Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of one of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders or Criminal Illegal Immigrants. So far in 2024, DPS and other agencies have arrested 44 Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders and Criminal Illegal Immigrants, including 16 sex offenders, 10 gang members, and 4 criminal illegal immigrants—with $32,000 in rewards being paid for tips that yielded arrests.

To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters MUST provide information to authorities using one of the following three methods:

• Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
• Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about then clicking on the link under their picture.
• Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the “SUBMIT A TIP” link (under the “About” section).

All tips are anonymous — regardless of how they are submitted — and tipsters will be provided a tip number instead of using a name.

DPS investigators work with local law enforcement agencies to select fugitives for the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders and Criminal Illegal Immigrants Lists. You can find the current lists — with photos — on the DPS website.

Do not attempt to apprehend these fugitives; they are considered armed and dangerous.