On Tuesday, Jericho Werrell escaped from the Robeson County Department of Social Services in Lumberton, North Carolina. This is where juvenile hearings are held.
What We Know:
- How Werrell became a suspect is unknown, but he and Derrick Deshawn Hunt (19) were arrested in connection for the death of two brothers.
- The sheriff’s office said Werrell disappeared after he appeared in court on two counts for murder and robbery with a deadly weapon. He was in custody at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
- Authorities released no details on how he escaped. The sheriff’s office sent out alerts to the public about Werrell’s disappearance and what he was last seen wearing, which was a white t-shirt and beige pants.
- A massive search was conducted after Werrell escaped and the U.S. Marshals Service offered a $1,500 cash reward for any information.
- On Wednesday night, the sheriff’s office confirmed that Werrell returned to police custody after his mother turned him over to the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. Nikki Jacobs said in an interview with WRAL that her son spent his Tuesday night and Wednesday in his grandmother’s abandoned home before biking to his uncle’s house.
- Werrell’s uncle, Wayne Lambert told WRAL that he allowed Werrell to shower before calling the police. Lambert said, “I just thank God that he came home to me, and I was the one that could put my hands on him before the officials did or anybody else would hurt this child because he’s not a very bad kid.”
- The federal marshals had Werrell transferred back to Cumberland Regional Juvenile in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Werrell has been there since October 14.
The sheriff’s office shared a statement saying, “Sheriff Wilkins stated that he is grateful for the outcome of this search and thanks to everyone for their assistance during the investigation”.
