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

America’s Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency