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Mom of 'affluenza' teen on missing person's list

Posted at 10:36 AM, Dec 21, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-21 11:10:41-05

The mother of the teenager whose drunk driving trial included a defense witness saying that he was afflicted with "affluenza" has been listed as a missing person, making her part of the investigation into the teen's probation violation, ABC News reports.

The U.S. Marshals issued a wanted poster Friday for Ethan Couch, who police believe has violated the conditions of his probation, and are offering a $5,000 reward in exchange for the 18-year-old's whereabouts.

RELATED | Sheriff on 'affluenza' teen: 'If we had a top 10 wanted list today, he's number one'

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A spokesperson at the Tarrant County, Texas, District Attorney's Office said that the teen's mother, Tanya Couch, was put on the missing person's list."

"That means that she is now part of the investigation," the spokesperson said.

Couch was convicted of four counts of intoxication manslaughter in 2013 but was not sentenced to any jail time; instead he was given 10 years probation -- a punishment considered a mere slap on the wrist by critics, and one that outraged the victims' families.

It was not clear how long he's allegedly been at large.