A convicted child predator, who is wanted in connection with a groping case in Harris County, has been added to the Texas 10 most wanted fugitives list, as announced by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Carlos Jose Ayala Morales, aged 43, reportedly sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl who was walking home from school in Woodland Heights on January 27. Shockingly, he has not been apprehended and continues to freely roam the streets. This incident highlights the urgent need for action to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.
In 2017, Ayala Morales was imprisoned for sexually assaulting several young girls in the Houston area.
On Friday, due to a human error, he was unintentionally excluded from the Texas sex offender list, and has now been added to it.
Ayala Morales, who had been in prison, was released a year ago. The Houston Police Department (HPD) had arrested him in 2017, suspecting his involvement in a series of sexual assault cases targeting children in Houston and Harris County. These cases occurred between 2014 and 2017.
Last week, authorities identified Ayala Morales as the man sought in connection with the Woodland Heights case.
We are still seeking answers from federal authorities regarding the reasons behind Ayala Morales being placed on an ICE detainer upon his release from prison.
According to records, Ayala Morales, originally from Honduras, obtained U.S. citizenship at some point. However, TDCJ informed KHOU 11 News that he was handed over to ICE on a detainer in February 2024.
According to court records, Ayala Morales had unspecified charges against him dismissed by the US Attorney’s Office in the same month.
