Arkansas State Police have apprehended a man from Alabama who was wanted in connection with homicides in both Oklahoma and Alabama. The search for the suspect had spanned multiple states in the southern region before he was finally caught on Thursday in Arkansas.
In Morrilton, state police have reported that 50-year-old Stacy Lee Drake was apprehended at approximately 10 a.m. in a wooded area. The agency stated that he was taken into custody “without incident.”
According to Arkansas State Police, Drake is being sought after for his alleged involvement in homicides and carjackings. Additionally, he is wanted on multiple felony charges including aggravated robbery, carjacking, and murder from various jurisdictions.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has reported that a man and a woman were discovered deceased inside a business located near Gans, Oklahoma, close to the state border of Arkansas. The bureau stated that both individuals had injuries that were indicative of homicide and also identified Drake as a person of interest in the case.
At first, Arkansas officials claimed that Drake was a suspect in three homicides in Oklahoma. However, according to OSBI spokesperson Hunter McKee, it was confirmed on Thursday that Drake is only linked to the two murders that occurred in the Gans region.
According to McKee, the authorities are still conducting an investigation to determine if the suspect was involved in any other criminal activities. However, he clarified that Drake was not a suspect in any other homicides in Oklahoma.
According to the OSBI, the state medical examiner is now in possession of the bodies of the two victims. Their primary objective is to identify the victims and determine the cause of their deaths.
According to the jail’s administrator, Drake is currently being held at the Conway County Detention Center in Arkansas, with his last known address being in Birmingham, Alabama. An extradition hearing has been scheduled for Friday morning, although it remains unclear whether Drake has legal representation at this time.
The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has accused Drake of killing Russell Andrews on May 14 in Alabama. Capt. Jack Kennedy, who leads the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, confirmed that there is a warrant for Drake on a murder charge. According to news reports, Andrews, who was 62 years old, was discovered deceased inside the Alcoholic Anonymous building.
According to Tuscaloosa authorities, Andrews’ car was stolen at the time of his death and was later caught on camera travelling along an interstate near the Arkansas-Oklahoma border.
