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Post by HeadMarshal on Dec 13, 2013 12:29:09 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: amw.com archives) Fugitive Profile as of August 31st, 2014 (Based on 2011 AMW.COM archived profile, FBI.Gov wanted poster): Aliases: Fred Ropes, Fred Sweat, Fred Antone, James Michael Zecli, Billy Morgan, Billy Ray Shugart, Billy Shugart, Billy Ray Shugary, Billy Shugary, Bill Shugart, Michael Tackett, Mark Spencer, "Highway", "Travellin' Man", "Billie Willie" Sex: Male Race: White Dates of Birth Used: January 26, 1960; April 20, 1966 Height: 5'8" Weight: 170 Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair):Brown, Could have a mustache Eyes: Blue Scars and Tattoos:-He bites his lip and has a scar from it -On his right arm he has two hammers with the word "Carnie Power" -On his left arm he has a skull with wings -On his chest he has "Cheryl" -One his right shoulder he has "Highway" Traits and Habits:-Likes to travel -Usually works as a truck driver or with the carnival Location information:-Wert could literally be anywhere in the United States, because he is known to work for traveling carnivals. Last Seen:-Texas -Texas authorities say they're looking for Wert, who they knew as Billy Ray Shugart, for a sex offense in their state. Other Possible Locations:-Lower 48 States , USA -Midwest , USA -Texas -Indiana -Illinois -Wisconsin -Michigan -Detroit , MI -Because Wert is known to work for traveling carnivals, he could be anywhere. He has family ties to the Midwest. Last Known Locations:-Texas -Wert fled before he could be charged with the Texas sex assault. Who to call if you've seen him: If you have any information concerning this person, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.Fred Wert is wanted out of both Michigan and Texas. He was aired on AMW four times from 2005 to 2009. Fred Wert and Joann Antone met while working for a traveling carnival in the Midwestern US. They started dating and had a daughter together, but afterwards, Fred went back to travelling with carnivals. When Fred was home, he was abusive to Joann, so she made him move out. On March 1, 1993, Fred went to Joann's home in Detroit, Michigan, where she was dating a childhood friend named Mark Spencer. Mark went outside to calm Fred down, who was banging on the house, when Fred shot Mark to death. Mark died in Joann's arms while Fred fled. In June 1997, Fred was using the name Billy Ray Shugart and living with a new girlfriend in Sulphur Springs, Texas. He was arrested for raping his girlfriend's daughter and his fingerprints were taken. Fred fled again before the fingerprints revealed that "Billy" was actually Fred Wert. Thoughts? The problem with finding Fred Wert is that he's worked as a truck driver and at carnivals, so he could really be anywhere in the Lower 48 States. He has several distinctive tattoos so that may be the best hope at finally catching him. Admin Note: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form
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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 13, 2013 12:48:49 GMT -5
I pretty much agree with you on possible whereabouts. Hope he's finally caught.
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Post by trishaann on Mar 22, 2014 20:08:15 GMT -5
The man that was murdered, Mark Dennis Spencer Sr., is my father. He was murdered when I was 17, my brothers were 13, and 11. My dad never got a chance to see us grow up, meet his grandkids (14 total), or live the life he should have lead. It breaks my heart that that man is still free. He is living his life, waking up everyday, loving his family, and just being. My dad never got that chance. I am so appreciative that you highlighted my dads case. I was heart broken when I went to the AMW site to share the link like I do every year on the anniversary of my dads murder and on his birthday and it was no longer there.
I know his family is in contact with him. Fred worked as a carnie worker and his family moved from Michigan to Florida right near the town where carnie workers congregate in the off season. Why else would they have to make that move? I have considered contacting Fred's family, but I know it would be wasting my time. I have done my research. I have their addresses and phone numbers. I probably know more about them than they would like. But I would do anything and everything to finally have some justice for my dad. I am afraid that as long as that man is free, my dad will never be at peace.
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Post by HeadMarshal on Mar 22, 2014 20:17:04 GMT -5
Hello trishaann,
Thank you for posting in this thread. I do hope that one day Fred Wert does get apprehended and will have a trial for the murder of your father. Sadly with amw.com offline, this is the one of the few online sites that mentions this case. Your father sounded like such a wonderful person.
One comment, Scumhunter (the admin of this site) may or may not edit your post slightly depending on if he thinks some of the information you provided may be too confidential for a message board that hasn't been brought up in the media. He's done it in the past with some other threads. If he does then you haven't done anything wrong, he would just do it to be on the safe side.
Hopefully Wert gets re-aired when John Walsh's new fugitive-hunting show airs later this year.
Derek
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Post by Scumhunter on Mar 22, 2014 20:40:58 GMT -5
Hi Trisha, First off I just want to offer my condolences to you. I also agree with Derek your father sounded like a wonderful person. To have to wait this long for justice, I can't begin to imagine what that feels like. As far as editing goes, I usually edit posts that are way too informative like "he works with me at so-and-so construction company" in Boulder, Colorado. I assume in this case what you are saying is common knowledge but just my advice I would self-edit anything you wouldn't want known in a public forum. Or if you don't want the Wert family knowing you know how to contact them. But otherwise, this is your case, so of course I won't edit anything you want to say without your permission. Hope you don't mind me asking but are the agencies and/or Sheriff's Office. involved with the search for Wert still actively searching for him as far as you know? As a longtime AMW watcher for years, I have seen many cases of fugitives on the run for decades who are finally apprehended, and justice delayed is still justice served. Obviously Wert still hasn't been caught soon enough. But I'm hoping that will change very soon.
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Post by Scumhunter on Jan 7, 2016 12:13:35 GMT -5
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Post by HeadMarshal on Jan 8, 2016 8:15:27 GMT -5
It's always a good thing to see the profile of a longtime fugitive on the FBI's website. Thanks to the FBI, we now know that he uses the nicknames of "Travellin' Man" and "Billie Willie".
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Post by profiler24 on Jan 2, 2017 7:41:00 GMT -5
It's always a good thing to see the profile of a longtime fugitive on the FBI's website. Thanks to the FBI, we now know that he uses the nicknames of "Travellin' Man" and "Billie Willie". Was there ever an age enhanced sketch of him ever published in the local and national newspapers as well as shown on the local and national tv news chanels? Also another question comes to my mind, were the police departments of the states where he may reside given a notice that a murderer living under false identity is in their neighborhoods?
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Post by тσρтєиhυитєя on Feb 23, 2017 14:53:51 GMT -5
Locating Fred Wert is even difficult since he's probably been all over the country. With that I hope he's still in. The states and it's just a matter of publicizing the case even more in order to finally apprehend him.
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Post by тσρтєиhυитєя on Nov 19, 2017 1:55:20 GMT -5
There’s a lot of similarities I see between former fugitive Edward Harper and Fred Wert. The first is that they are/were believed to be truck drivers while on the run.
They’re both wanted for child molestation, and have been known to have some sort of contact with family or law enforcement after they each went on the run in 1994 and 1993 respectively.
Also he’s a vet recently added cold case to the FBI site, so he’s not on the verge of being removed from there.
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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 7, 2017 3:14:33 GMT -5
While obviously Wert is unfortunately still at large as of this posting date (12/7/2017) since he's still on the FBI website, wanted to also provide the Wayne County court search result link as a backup just in case. cmspublic.3rdcc.org/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=227654
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Post by тσρтєиhυитєя on Dec 30, 2017 2:36:16 GMT -5
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Post by тσρтєиhυитєя on Dec 14, 2018 21:25:41 GMT -5
Unfortunately Fred Wert has been removed from the FBI site.
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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 14, 2018 22:17:56 GMT -5
Sorry to see that. In any case, a search of Wayne County's Odyssey records confirms there's been no movement on his Michigan charges since 1993, pretty much confirming he's still at large as of today (12/14/2018).
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Post by Scumhunter on Nov 28, 2021 3:28:53 GMT -5
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