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Woman arrested following manhunt for escaped inmate in downtown Houston is NOT his sister, despite initial reports

Who is Zana Tyler?

Zana Tyler (Mugshot) (Copyright 2024 by Harris County Sheriff's Office - All rights reserved.)

HOUSTON – Despite initial reports from Harris County deputies after an escaped Houston inmate’s capture, KPRC 2 has learned of another surprising twist.

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Last Friday, investigators said Nigel Sanders, 35, was found at his mother’s home on Force St. in the Cloverleaf area of east Harris County. This came nearly 24 hours after he escaped from the Harris County jail.

The report KPRC 2 received from deputies following his capture said Sanders was placed back in handcuffs after a brief struggle at his mother’s home. She was later identified as Kathryn Gomez Sanders, 53, and was also taken into custody. Along with her, was another woman, 27-year-old Zana Tyler, who was initially identified as Sanders’ sister.

Both women were charged with hindering the apprehension of an escaped inmate.

Authorities first described Tyler as Sanders’ sister, however shortly after her first court appearance Monday morning, prosecutors confirmed she is not related to any of them. So who is she? According to Assistant District Attorney Gillian Hogan, Tyler and Nigel Sanders are “colleagues.”

She would not explain in more detail what that meant, citing an ongoing investigation. However, Hogan did confirm that Tyler was not residing in the home where Sanders was captured. Tyler’s attorney corroborated Hogan’s statements but also added they were not “romantically involved.”

Tyler also has a previous charge in addition to the apprehension charges for possession of a controlled substance, which prosecutors say she has evaded.

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.


About the Author
Ahmed Humble headshot

Historian, educator, writer, expert on "The Simpsons," amateur photographer, essayist, film & tv reviewer and race/religious identity scholar. Joined KPRC 2 in Spring 2024 but has been featured in various online newspapers and in the Journal of South Texas' Fall 2019 issue.

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