Troup County jail escapee captured in Cherokee County

Authorities have captured 20-year-old Christian Joel Marcos Cortez after he escaped from the Troup County Jail early Sunday morning. Cortez, who has been in custody since June 2025 on child molestation charges, reportedly walked through an exterior door and climbed a fence to flee the property around 4:42 a.m. Following a tip that he had traveled to Acworth, Cherokee County deputies took him into custody Sunday night. Troup County officials have launched an internal investigation to determine how the security breach occurred.