Wisconsin inmate in custody after 9-day search, failed to report back from Huber work release

 Wisconsin inmate in custody after 9-day search, failed to report back from Huber work release

A Wisconsin inmate named Travis Lee McHenry, 34, was recaptured after a tense 9-day manhunt following his failure to return from a Huber work release program on December 12, 2025. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office coordinated the search across urban and rural areas, ending with his arrest in a Waukesha motel on December 21.

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Work Release Violation

McHenry, serving a 5-year sentence for armed robbery at Milwaukee County Jail, walked off his job site at a local warehouse under Huber provisions allowing supervised employment. He ditched his ankle monitor in a dumpster, triggering alerts; deputies warned he was "armed and dangerous" with gang ties.

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Manhunt Details

Sheriff's K9 units, drones, and tips from 200+ callers scoured Milwaukee's north side, parks, and highways. Sightings poured in via Crime Stoppers hotline; McHenry survived on stolen bikes and fast food, evading checkpoints until a motel clerk recognized his mugshot from wanted posters.

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Arrest and Charges

SWAT raided the Waukesha Super 8 at dawn, finding McHenry with a concealed knife and $800 cash. He faces escape charges (up to 10 years added) plus probation violations; no injuries reported, though he resisted briefly before surrendering.

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Huber Program Scrutiny

The incident renews debates on Wisconsin's 50-year-old Huber law, trusted for low recidivism (12%) but criticized post-escapes. Officials vow tighter GPS and employer checks amid 2025 budget hikes for monitoring.

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McHenry's Criminal History

Travis Lee McHenry accumulated priors including 2019 armed robbery of a Milwaukee gas station, where he wielded a knife demanding $1,200 cash, plus drug possession and assault convictions. Sentenced to five years in 2022, Huber release in late 2025 aimed at rehabilitation via warehouse labor, but his gang affiliations with North Side Kings raised red flags ignored by supervisors.

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Escape Tactics Exposed

McHenry severed his GPS ankle monitor using wire cutters from the job site, discarding it in a Forest Home Avenue dumpster tracked via last ping. He cycled stolen bikes through Riverwest trails, subsisting on Subway sandwiches bought with pilfered debit cards, while posting cryptic Snapchat stories hinting at his freedom.

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Community Involvement

Milwaukee residents contributed 250 tips via the Sheriff's app and 414-220-TIPS line, with a $5,000 reward claimed by the Waukesha clerk who locked the bathroom door upon spotting him. Schools locked down briefly; local pastors held prayer vigils fearing reprisals in high-crime zones.

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Program Reforms Proposed

Sheriff Denita Ball vows mandatory pre-Huber psych evals and real-time employer alerts post-incident. Wisconsin's 12% Huber escape rate draws bipartisan scrutiny; lawmakers eye furlough caps amid 2026 budget talks.

Escape Aftermath

Travis Lee McHenry returned to Milwaukee County Jail under heightened security, isolated in solitary with no privileges. Inmates cheered his recapture via chants heard on body cams; he faces a January 2026 sentencing hearing where escape adds felony counts, potentially doubling his term to 15 years.

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Victim and Family Impact

The warehouse employer, facing audits, suspended Huber participants temporarily, citing safety fears. McHenry's mother publicly disowned him on local TV, urging youth to "choose work over streets"; no gang reprisals reported, easing neighborhood tensions.

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Tech and Tip Success

Drones with thermal imaging covered 50 square miles, but human intel clinched it—Waukesha clerk's 911 call included live description matching tattoos. Sheriff's app downloads surged 300%, proving community-tech synergy in urban manhunts.

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Huber Law Evolution

Enacted in 1913 for WWI inmates, Huber's 12% recidivism beats prison averages, saving Wisconsin $50M yearly. Post-McHenry, Gov. Evers proposes AI risk scoring; critics fear over-policing low-level offenders.