George and Jennifer Hyatte remain at large Wednesday as police continue to try and figure how a routine court appearance could have gone so tragically wrong. On Tuesday, George Hyatte, 34, appeared at Roane County Courthouse where he pled guilty to charges stemming from an armed robbery. Hyatte was already serving a 35-year sentence on robbery and assault charges. Suddenly, as he was being led away by two guards, his wife, 31-year-old Jennifer, drove up.
According to witnesses, Hyatte shouted to his wife, 'Shoot him.' The woman opened fire, striking two guards, one fatally. The victim, Wayne 'Cotton' Morgan, 56, died at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville shortly after the shooting. The other guard, who has still not been identified, survived his injuries.
Mark Gwyn, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation compared the incident to 'Bonnie and Clyde.' On Wednesday's Good Morning America, he warned, 'These people are very desperate and don't have anything to lose at this point. They've already committed a murder, so we're treating them as some of the most dangerous fugitives we've ever tried to capture.'
Authorities believe that the couple, who met while he was incarcerated at the Tiptonville prison where she was a nurse, may be hiding with relatives. However, family members have already appeared on television, pleading with the couple to surrender. This morning, George Hyatte's mother, Edith, begged her son, 'Please, give yourself up.'
Police have already found the getaway vehicle, and there is evidence that Jennifer Hyatte may have been injured in the shootout. Authorities believe that they may now be driving a van, and have alerted hospitals to watch for any woman who presents with what might be gunshot wounds.
Despite the fact that George Hyatte, who has a 16-year string of convictions, had managed to escape twice before, officials say that they followed proper protocol regarding the court appearance.
