Convicted rapist extradited back to Kentucky after several months on the run
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Convicted child rapist William "Scott" Carter extradited to Kentucky for sentencing.
- Carter fled before a Sept. 2025 hearing, used a passport to travel to Amsterdam.
- A federal law officer found Carter and lodged him in a Chicago jail pre-extradition.
A convicted child rapist has been extradited back to Kentucky after several months on the run, according to Kentucky State Police.
William “Scott” Carter, 52, has been on the run since early September, when he skipped a sentencing hearing for his rape case in Grayson Circuit Court. State police said a former Kentucky state trooper, who now works as a federal law enforcement officer, recently found Carter and temporarily lodged him in a jail in Chicago.
Court documents say Carter used his passport to enter Amsterdam Aug. 31, 2025, just a few days before the sentencing hearing. State police did not say where Carter was found or how long he may have been in the Netherlands before his arrest.
Carter was extradited back to Kentucky Wednesday and booked into the Grayson County Detention Center, according to state police. He is awaiting sentencing in his case, which had not been scheduled as of Friday morning.
“This case demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting children and holding offenders accountable, regardless of how far they attempt to run,” Det. Isaac Atwell, the lead investigator in the case, said in a news release. “We will not stop pursuing justice for victims, and we are grateful for the cooperation of our federal partners in ensuring this offender was returned to face sentencing.”
Carter was indicted on one count of second-degree rape, four counts of third-degree rape and one count of first-degree sexual abuse in May 2024. His indictment says he raped a juvenile younger than 16 years old between June 2023 and February 2024.
He was arrested Feb. 21, 2024. Six days later, he paid a $10,000 bond and was released from custody, according to court records.
Carter pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2025, and prosecutors recommended he spend 13 years in prison, according to court documents. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for Sept. 2, 2025, but it did not occur after Carter failed to appear.
“Due to the nature of the crimes and to protect the identity of the victim, no further details will be released at this time,” state police said in its news release. “Kentucky State Police Post 4 would like to thank its federal law enforcement partners for their assistance in locating and returning Carter to the commonwealth.”
