Tonya Couch, the mother of a fugitive teen who used an "affluenza" defense after killing four people in a drunken crash was returned to Texas on Thursday to face a charge of helping her son evade capture.
While her son, Ethan Couch, continues to work with a high-profile attorney in Mexico City to avoid extradition, there are five unanswered questions in the case.
What Happened to the Pickup Truck Tonya and Ethan Couch Drove to Mexico? Sources familiar with the investigation say the two drove their black 2011 Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Edition truck to Mexico. But nobody seems to know what happened to it after the mother and son were arrested in Puerto Vallarta. It’s possible they sold the truck somewhere along the way. A spokesman for the Mexican state of Jalisco, where Puerto Vallarta is located, did not return a call seeking comment.
How Much Cash Did They Have With Them While They Were on the Run? Tonya Couch withdrew tens of thousands of dollars from her bank shortly before she and her son disappeared last month, according to a law enforcement source. It is unclear how much they had with them at the time they were arrested. Texas officials say they have received no information from Mexican authorities about how much cash they recovered.
What Happened to the Couch's Dog? The Couches took their dog with them to Mexico, officials said, and it was apparently with them when they were caught in Puerto Vallarta. A Facebook post on the website of an animal welfare group in Puerto Vallarta is offering a $1000 reward for the return of a “wolfdog” named Virgil and asks anyone with information to call a Fort Worth-area telephone number. A resident of the apartment building where the two were caught said police returned to pick up the dog a few hours after the arrests. But nobody seems to know where the dog is now.
When Will Ethan Couch Return to Texas? Ethan Couch remains held in a detention center in Mexico City. His attorney says Mexican authorities erred by trying to deport Couch as an illegal immigrant instead of holding an extradition hearing, which is required when someone is facing criminal charges. If Ethan Couch wants to drop his legal challenge, he could be returned to Texas, where he faces a 120-day sentence for violating his probation.
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Will Tonya Couch Bond Out of Jail? Tonya Couch’s bond is set at $1 million on a charge of hindering apprehension of a felon. Her attorneys day her bond is unusually high and should be reduced. In any case, it is possible she could bond out of the Tarrant County jail soon.
