The Watauga County Sheriff's Office was alerted early Wednesday morning by the Duplin County Sheriff's Office that an individual had escaped from custody was believed to be in the area.

Officers were dispatched to the Appaloosa Trail, Boone address of 36-year-old Tony Monroe Henderson, the man wanted by Duplin authorities.

A second alert from Duplin indicated Henderson was believed to be traveling with Christina Hicks, 36, also of Appaloosa Trail, in a blue Toyota Camry. The vehicle was located and officers stopped the car near the Quality Plus on U.S. 421.

Hicks stepped out of the vehicle at the officer's request and a male matching Henderson's description was found lying in the back seat. Both were taken into custody.

Warrants were accessed via the newly-installed NCAWARE statewide database. Hicks was charged with harboring a fugitive. Both were transported to the Watauga County Detention and are anticipated to be transported back to Duplin County on Wednesday.

According to Duplin County Sheriff Blake Wallace, Henderson was in custody at the Duplin detention facility for failure to pay child support. He was a trustee at the center and was outside the jail on work detail when he fled the area on foot at approximately 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Wallace said authorities believe Hicks picked up Henderson shortly thereafter in Duplin and transported him back to Watauga.