Washington, D.C. – U.S.
Marshals from the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force captured
“15 Most Wanted” fugitive Elliott Evan Stamps in Chicago yesterday.
The Marshals’ Great Lakes Regional
Fugitive Task Force learned last week Stamps was in the Kankakee,
Ill., area. Investigators worked diligently over the next four days
to isolate his new location on the south side of Chicago, where a
lengthy surveillance was conducted. Stamps was observed exiting a
residence late last night and was arrested by the task force.
“U.S. Marshals Deputies and law
enforcement partners on our fugitive task forces have once again
corralled a dangerous and violent fugitive who was a great threat to
those around him,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director John F.
Clark. “This fugitive has a four-page criminal rap sheet stretching
back 19 years, and his capture ensures he will not be adding any
more crimes to that rap sheet anytime soon.”
Stamps, 38, became the focus of a
nationwide manhunt in June by the U.S. Marshals, which added him to
the agency’s “15 Most Wanted” fugitive list. Acquaintances describe
Stamps as a “cracked-out maniac,” and he was wanted on kidnapping,
armed robbery and aggravated assault charges by Mississippi
authorities. A federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid
prosecution was also issued in the Southern District of Mississippi.
Stamps is suspected of wielding a hammer
against a 55-year-old female victim, as well as stabbing her
multiple times in 2007. He then drove the injured woman around the
Jackson area, withdrawing ATM cash from her checking account in
order to purchase and use crack cocaine. The nightmarish ride ended
when he allegedly left the woman for dead in a trailer park. The
victim regained consciousness long enough to get help but faced days
of life-or-death medical procedures.
Because of the U.S. Marshals’ expertise
in nationwide fugitive pursuits, Mississippi authorities and Jackson
officials asked that Stamps be added to the Marshals’ “15 Most
Wanted” list. The U.S. Marshals focused its Regional Fugitive Task
Forces in the Gulf Coast area and in the Great Lakes area on the
Stamps case.
In addition to the U.S. Marshals’ “15
Most Wanted Fugitive” list, Stamps had been listed as a State of
Mississippi “Most Wanted Fugitive” since February.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals “15 Most
Wanted” fugitive list. During that time, 198 of 212 fugitives on the
list have been found, leading to the convictions of some of the
nation’s most violent felons.
Original News Release
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