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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The search is on for three teenage boys on the run in West Tennessee after escaping the Wilder Youth Development Center late Saturday night. Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services provided the following: “Three youth escaped from The Wilder Youth Development Center Saturday evening. DCS immediately notified law enforcement of the identities of the missing teens when […]

FAYETTE COUNTY, Tenn. — WREG Investigators uncovered a long list of problems at Wilder Youth Development Center in Fayette County, where juveniles from Shelby County and across the state go when they’re found guilty of violent crimes. The problems include escapes, riots, and assaults. Raymond Taylor said his son Brian went to Wilder when he […]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Another teenager who escaped from Wilder Youth Development Center in Fayette County earlier this month was caught in Cheatham County, the Department of Children’s Services said Tuesday. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said a resident who lives near the detention center reported they saw three males run through their backyard on March […]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — One of three teenage boys who escaped the Wilder Youth Development Center in Fayette County was captured in Nashville, the Department of Children’s Services confirmed Tuesday. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday evening, a resident who lives near the detention center reported they saw three males run through their backyard. Wilder […]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Recent escapes from the Wilder Youth Development Center in West Tennessee have led to a new bill being introduced in the general assembly. The Wilder Youth Development Center in West Tennessee is a juvenile justice facility for boys and young men in Fayette County. But it also has a long history of […]

UPDATE: The teen was captured on March 1 at 10:30 p.m., according to the Oakland Police Department. ** MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 16-year-old boy who was charged with attempted first-degree murder is on the run Wednesday after escaping DCS custody in Fayette County. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said the teen, Devin Westbrook, escaped from […]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A state-run youth facility, the Wilder Youth Development Center in Fayette County, is getting failing grades in a scathing report on conditions at the center. Two groups, Disability Rights Tennessee and Youth Law Center, said their investigation and interviews of youth and staff at the facility, along with public data, found beatings and […]

MEMPHIS, Tenn.– A Shelby County Commission committee voted Wednesday to adopt a five-year Safe Community Action Plan from the Memphis-Shelby County Crime Commission as a framework to support legislation for public safety initiatives.  Memphis-Shelby County Crime Commission President Bill Gibbons presented some of the more than 60-page plan to Shelby County Commissioners Wednesday, saying there […]

FAYETTE COUNTY, Tenn.– There is new information on a weekend disturbance at Wilder Youth Development Center in Fayette County. Tuesday, from the perimeter of Wilder Youth Development Center all appeared to be quiet. A far cry from January 1st when, according to officials from the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, youth in two dorms broke […]

NOTE: This story has been updated with new information and a response from the state. FAYETTE COUNTY, Tenn. — Three sources in Fayette County told WREG that Somerville Volunteer firefighters were called to Wilder after a report of a fire at Wilder Youth Development Center. A spokesperson said the juveniles broke through fire escape doors […]

A teenager who escaped from the Wilder Youth Development Center in Fayette County was captured.