U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Fugitive After 9 Years on the Run

Mansfield, Ohio – Yesterday morning, members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Richland County Division and Officers from the Mansfield Police Department arrested David Murray, age 47, at a residence on the 100 block of

Miller Street

in Mansfield. Murray was wanted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office on a bench warrant after he failed to appear for sentencing on an escape case in

Richland County Common Pleas Court

on May 6, 2002. Murray was also wanted on misdemeanor charges by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Mansfield Police Department since August 2002.

Murray fled to California and on March 3, 2004 the California Department of Corrections and Community Services issued a warrant for Murray for a parole violation on a fraud case. Murray, also a convicted sex offender, is also facing charges in California for failure to provide change of address, as required by California law. After fleeing California, Murray was hiding out in the Fort Myers, Florida area where he managed to elude capture by utilizing several alias names, social security numbers and dates of birth. On February 6, 2011 Murray provided another alias to law enforcement when he was arrested for driving without a license by the Fort Myers Police Department. Shortly after Murray was released on bond, authorities discovered his true identity and developed information that Murray had fled Florida and was currently in the Mansfield area.

Task Force Officers initiated a fugitive investigation in Mansfield to locate Murray and yesterday morning the investigation led them to a residence on the 100 block of

Miller Street

. Contact was made with the occupants of the residence and Murray was arrested in the kitchen area where he attempted to give an alias name when questioned about his identity. Shortly thereafter, Murray admitted to his true identity and was transported to the Richland County Jail.

Acting Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Drew Deserto stated, “It always brings a feeling of great satisfaction to capture a fugitive that has been on the run for many years. Great work by all the officers involved in this cold case!”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at: 1-866-4-WANTED. Callers may remain anonymous and a cash reward may be available. The Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” fugitives can be viewed at http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/fugitives/pdf/dangerous_dozen.pdf, which is updated monthly.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force - Richland County Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: Ashland Police Department, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Bellville Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Butler Police Department, Crestline Police Department, Galion Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Loudonville Police Department, Mansfield Municipal Probation, Mansfield Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ontario Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, Richland County Probation, Richland County Prosecutor’s Office, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.