Troup deputies capture accused child molester who escaped jail
Christian Joel Marcos Cortez escaped from the Troup County Jail in the early morning hours of February 8, 2026. (Photo: Troup County Sheriff's Office)
TROUP COUNTY, Ga. - Authorities captured an accused child molester who escaped from the Troup County Jail on Sunday morning.
What we know:
Christian Joel Marcos Cortez, 20, escaped from the jail property around 4:42 a.m., deputies said.
Deputies received a tip that he may have traveled to Acworth, and around 9:20 p.m., he was captured by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. He will be taken back to the Troup County Jail.
Cortez was booked into jail in June 2025 for child molestation.
Investigators said he was able to walk out of the jail through an outer door and then climbed the fence to leave the property.
An internal investigation is ongoing to determine how Cortez was able to leave.
What we don't know:
Law enforcement is still investigating how Cortez was able to leave.
The Source: Information in this report comes from the Troup County Sheriff's Office and Troup County jail records.