Man who fled manslaughter trial in Texas was arrested in Cottageville

COTTAGEVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – A man who fled trial in Texas last year was arrested Friday after he was found living in Cottageville.

Matthew John Flaskrud, 47, attended the first two days of his criminal trial in Texas in June 2023, but removed his ankle monitor and fled the state, according to the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office.

The trial was connected to manslaughter with a vehicle after Flaskrud crashed his motorcycle, while intoxicated, into another. The incident killed 36-year-old Derrick Hintzman.

The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office said it was alerted on September 6 that the wanted fugitive, out of Montgomery County, Texas, maybe in the area.

He was arrested Friday but provided authorities with a false name and refused to identify himself. State Police used a portable fingerprint reader that helped confirm his identity.

Officials say Flaskrud is also a sex offender. He was convicted in Wisconsin for various sex crimes and had a warrant for ‘failing to comply-sex offender registry’.

He is awaiting extradition to Texas and is being held at the Colleton County Detention Center.