| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: |
|
February 25, 2008 |
Brian L. Lucio, Deputy US Marshal
(225) 620-4562 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fugitive Surrenders after Watching Himself on
America's Most Wanted |
|
|
Memphis, TN – An Ascension Parish
fugitive surrendered to authorities one year to the day that he began his
flight from justice. Bobby Jo Weatherton walked up to the U.S. Courthouse in
Memphis, Tennessee and told a security guard that he watched himself on the
FOX television show America’s Most Wanted Saturday night (02/23/08) and was
tired on running. Weatherton has been the target of a major investigation
led by the Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Force and the Ascension Parish
Sheriff’s Office since February 24, 2007.
Weatherton was wanted by the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office for attempted
1st degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape. Weatherton was
also wanted for violations of his federal probation. After being featured on
America’s Most Wanted Saturday night, law enforcement received tips from
Georgia to California about where Weatherton had been. Weatherton is no
stranger to law enforcement. He was convicted in 1979 for breaking into a
home in North Louisiana and sexually assaulting a female victim for several
hours. He served 24 years in prison, including a long stay at Angola, one of
Louisiana’s toughest prisons.
“Our investigators worked tirelessly with investigators from all over the
country searching for Weatherton. We were determined to do everything in our
power to leave him with no where to hide.” said U.S. Marshal Carey Jenkins.
The Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Force, coordinated by the U.S. Marshals
Service, is a multi-agency task force that targets persons wanted for
violent crimes, narcotic offenses, and sex offenders in the Capitol area and
surrounding Parishes. Participating agencies are the Baton Rouge Police
Department, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana State Police,
and the Louisiana State Probation and Parole. For more information about the
U.S. Marshals Service, visit
http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/la-m/index.html.
###
America’s Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency |
|
