Post by Scumhunter on Aug 10, 2016 2:50:51 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: wncn.com)
Fugitive Profile/Brief Description from wncn.com:
"Escaped 10/2/1976 Assigned to: Halifax Correctional Center – Halifax (now closed) Age today: 72 Convicted of 1st degree murder in Hertford County on 7/24/1963 in connection with the death of Mr. W.E. Worrell and sentenced to life in prison. Parole eligible since December 1973."
interactives.wncn.com/photomojo/gallery/37399/636790/nc-most-wanted-prison-escapees/melvin-jones-0217485-1st-degree-murder/
More detailed/description from Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald website:
Melvin Jones of Murfreesboro was serving out his life sentence for the fatal beating of local businessman W.E. Worrell on June 6, 1963. He was initially incarcerated at Central Prison in Raleigh before being moved to the Halifax Correctional Center, which is now closed. On Oct. 2, 1976, Jones was carrying out an outside work assignment at Caledonia Farm in Halifax County when he escaped. He has been on the run since that time, and state officials are unaware if he has since died.
According to research of old files of the “Hertford County Herald” – Jones and Al Deloatch, both 19 at the time, went to Worrell’s grist mill in Murfreesboro on June 6, 1963 with plans to commit robbery.
Inside the mill house office on that day were 91-year-old W.E. Worrell and one of his employees, 65-year-old Ralph Davis. They were in the process of tabulating the sales from the previous day’s work when confronted by Jones and Deloatch.
During the robbery, Worrell was thrown to the cement floor of the office with such force that he suffered internal injuries. Worrell died the next day at Raiford Memorial Hospital in Franklin, VA. Davis survived the brutal attack, suffering head and facial injuries.
At the time of his death, Worrell was the oldest member of Murfreesboro Methodist Church.
Jones and Deloatch fled the crime scene, but were spotted later by off-duty Highway Patrol Trooper Jack Stewart as they entered a wooded area near Sandy Hollow Stables, located approximately one mile from Worrell’s Mill.
Following their capture, the two men confessed to Hertford County Sheriff R.V. Parker that they had planned the robbery while in jail on the charge of breaking and entering G.V. Wise’s store in Murfreesboro where they stole several hundred dollars worth of merchandise.
Both men were convicted of first degree murder on July 24, 1963 in Hertford County Superior Court.
www.roanoke-chowannewsherald.com/2015/09/08/long-term-escapees-sought/
Article on all 12 cold case NC prison escapees: abc11.com/news/north-carolinas-12-most-wanted/964510/
Thoughts? Last year, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety released a list of their "12 Most Wanted" escapees. Melvin Jones is one of them, and obviously escaped since that initial conviction. Unlike some of the other fugitives on the list, there actually is some detail on his crime. He'd be around 72 today so he's still relatively young enough to still be captured.
UPDATE: As of July 29th, 2018, Jones is still listed on North Carolina's online inmate records search as a prison escapee: webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0217485&searchLastName=Jones&searchFirstName=Melvin&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1
Admin Note #1: According to online articles, Anyone with information on Jones' whereabouts is asked to contact the Department of Public Safety at (919) 838-3572.
Admin Note #2: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form
