Roanoke Murder Suspect Arrested After 18 Years

Roanoke, VA - Almost two decades of eluding law enforcement came to an end this weekend for a Roanoke man. United States Marshal G. Wayne Pike and Roanoke Chief of Police A.L Gaskins announce Thomas Manuel Paige, Jr., also known as T.J. Paige and T.J. Swan was apprehended in Kingston, Jamaica by the Jamaican officials and U.S. Marshals on Saturday, May 19, 2007.

Paige was wanted by the Roanoke City Police Department for 2 counts of Capital Murder, 2 counts of Malicious Wounding, 4 counts of Firearms Violations, and federal Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution charges in the 1989 murders of two people and the wounding of two others.

Paige, who was considered armed and dangerous, was arrested without incident by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) through coordinated efforts with the US Marshals Service Jamaica Field Office (USMS JFO) as he walked down the street in a busy section of Kingston.

In the early Spring of 2007, investigators with the USMS, the Roanoke Police Department and members of the Blue Ridge Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team developed information that Paige may be residing in Jamaica. The USMS JFO and the JCF began a joint investigation in Jamaica which eventually located Paige living in the town of Stony Hill near Kingston.

After the arrest, Paige’s attempts to provide fraudulent information to arresting officers proved fruitless as he was positively identified by his fingerprints and detained. Paige remains in custody at the South Camp Rehabilitation Center in Kingston pending Jamaica immigration charges and deportation to the United States.

During the 18 years Paige has been wanted numerous law enforcement agencies have provided investigative efforts including the Roanoke Police Department, the FBI, the USMS, the US Attorney’s office and other member agencies of the Blue Ridge Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team.