One of America’s most wanted fugitives has been nabbed in Belize. Derrick Yancey, a former Sheriff’s deputy, was wanted in the State of Georgia for the June 10th 2008 murder of his wife and a day labourer at his home in Atlanta, Georgia. Yancey, who was a police officer, originally blamed the double murder on his 20-year-old Guatemalan day laborer Marcial Cax Puluc. He claimed that Puluc had robbed, shot and killed Yancey’s 46-year-old wife, Linda and that he then shot Puluc in self-defense.
The forensic evidence however told a different tale and in August of 2008 Derrick Yancey was charged with two murders. He was released on $150,000 bail and was confined to house arrest. Yancey however cut off his ankle bracelet
and fled in April of this year. He was seen buying a non-refundable bus ticket to California and then boarding a bus to Dallas which then went on to Phoenix, Arizona. That was where they lost track of him until recently when the accused double murderer was featured on America’s Most Wanted.
A keen viewer and resident in PG saw the show and realized that Yancey was hiding out in Punta Gorda. The tip was called in to US Marshalls and they in turn notified Punta Gorda Police who sprung to action. They staked him out and made their move on Saturday afternoon at a bar on Main Street in Punta Gorda. Police report that it was a peaceful surrender. He reportedly told police that he was surprised or shocked to be captured but that he was relieved and ready to go home.
And home is where he will be going, if he considers a jail cell in Georgia home. He remains under police lockdown at the Queen’s Street Police Station awaiting deportation back to the United States to face the double murder charge. The Belizean who called in the tip stands to receive a reward of US$25,000. There has been no indication of how long Yancey was hiding out in Belize.
