Texas 'affluenza' teen Ethan Couch missing, arrest warrant issued

FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Investigators are searching for Ethan Couch -- the notorious "affluenza" teen who killed four in a drunk-driving crash -- after he missed a check-in with his probation officer.

Attorneys said Couch was supposed to meet with juvenile justice probation officers in early December. Neither he nor his mother could be found after the teen missed the meeting, his attorneys said. The court has issued a directive to apprehend, which is the juvenile justice system's equivalent to an arrest warrant.

"We have recently learned that, for the last several days, the juvenile probation officer has been unable to make contact with Ethan or his mother with whom he has been residing," attorneys Scott Brown and William Reagan Wynn said. "It is our understanding that the court has issued a directive to apprehend to have Ethan detained because he is out of contact with his probation officer. We do not have any further information concerning this situation. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for us to publicly discuss this matter further at this time."

Couch is serving 10 years probation in the juvenile justice system for the June 2013 crash that also left nine people injured. His legal defense team said Couch, who was 16 at the time, suffered from what they called "affluenza" because he was spoiled by his wealthy parents and never faced any consequences for his actions, growing up with a sense of entitlement and poor judgement.

Earlier this month, a video appeared on Twitter allegedly showing Couch in a room where the drinking game beer pong was being played, in direct violation of court orders he avoid alcohol and drugs.

Prosecutors recently filed a motion to transfer his case to adult court after he turns 19.