Mother who hid son after escape appears in court

HOUSTON – Officials with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office say a woman hindered the pursuit of her son after he escaped from police custody Thursday. Today she appeared before a judge.

Investigators say Nigel Sanders, 35, was found hiding behind a couch in his mother’s home on Force Street in the Cloverleaf neighborhood of eastern Harris County. His mother, Kathryn Gomez Sanders, 52, was also arrested after Nigel was found in her home.

Now she could be a convicted criminal.

The manhunt for Nigel unfolded in Houston Thursday afternoon after he escaped police custody and attempted to steal a woman’s car.

After the carjacking failed, Nigel continued on foot. His exact whereabouts are unclear, but he eventually ended up at his mother’s home, located nearly 14 miles from the courthouse from which he escaped.

Today, the State argued that Kathryn posed a threat to community safety by preventing her son’s capture after his violent escape.

Nigel’s sister Zana Tyler, 27, was also arrested.

Nigel also faces additional charges for robbery and escape, in addition to his original charges. His family members, meanwhile, were accused of preventing the arrest of an escaped detainee.