Crime & Public Safety

Mom of 'affluenza' teen in U.S. custody, compared to Carrot Top

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Dec 31, 2015

Tonya Couch, the mother of the "affluenza teen" Ethan Couch, was deported to the U.S. from Mexico Wednesday.

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The 48-year-old drove with her 18-year-old son to Mexico after a video surfaced showing the teenager at a party where alcohol was consumed by minors and games of beer pong were played by underage participants. Ethan Couch failed to report to his probation officer on Dec. 10. The actions in the video suggested a violation of Ethan Couch's 10-year probation, a term allotted after he killed four people in a drunken driving incident in Texas in 2013.

The mother and son were detained in Puerto Vallarta after Ethan Couch placed a pizza order with Domino's on his personal cellphone.

The two were detained at an immigration office in Guadalajara Monday with plans to be turned over to American authorities. After being arrested, Ethan Couch filed a legal writ to allow him to stay in Mexico.

Immigration authorities did not receive a judge’s injunction for his mother. On Wednesday, Tonya Couch arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, where she was escorted by U.S. marshals while in handcuffs.

It's unclear why she was flown to LAX and not Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport or how long she will stay there.

She will be charged with hindering the apprehension of a juvenile, a charge that can yield a jail sentence between two and 10 years.

Following release of photos of her arrival in the U.S., many social media users began to compare Tonya Couch's likeness to a comedian known for his bright red, curly hair.

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