Fugitive accused of child molestation captured near Winchester after 2-year manhunt

WINCHESTER, Ky. (FOX 56) — A man who has been on the run from law enforcement for two years was captured on Tuesday near Winchester.

According to a Facebook post, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana announced that Steven Sumner was wanted on felony warrants related to child molestation.

The sheriff’s office said that the warrants came from a criminal investigation that began in August 2020. Sumner was said to have fled in 2023 after failing to appear, leading to another warrant being issued for his arrest in July 2023.

With the help of the U.S. Marshals, Sumner was found after reportedly being seen driving near Winchester. Marshals were able to take him into custody without incident.

According to a wanted poster shared by the U.S. Marshals, Sumner was a preacher at an area church in Madison County, Indiana. He was said to be considered armed and dangerous, and he had access to a support network that would reportedly funnel him money, transportation, fake IDs, and ways to support him.

A $25,000 reward was offered in connection with his arrest on 18 counts of child molestation.