Fugitive Kidnapper Arrested at Atlanta Airport and Missing Person Mary Nunes Found

Concord, NH – Scott Kelley, 50, a former Whitefield, New Hampshire, resident wanted by law enforcement since November 2004 for non-custodial kidnapping and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, was arrested upon his return to the United States by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force at an Atlanta-area airport. Missing person Mary Nunes was also located with Kelley re-entering the United States.

On April 13, Kelley and Nunes, entered the U.S. Consulate in Costa Rica, and requested passports be issued to return to the United States. During this process it was learned that Kelley had an outstanding arrest warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and that Nunes, 19, was a missing person. Given this information, Kelley and Nunes were issued temporary passports for travel back to the United States.

Today at approximately 1:40 p.m., Kelley attempted to re-enter the United States at a Customs and Border Patrol Check point at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and was immediately arrested by U.S. Marshals who were awaiting his arrival. Nunes was interviewed to ensure her health and safety and was allowed to continue to her final destination. Kelley is currently being held at Cobb County Jail pending extradition to New Hampshire.

The arrest was coordinated with multiple agencies involved including, the U.S. Marshals Sex Offender Investigations Division, U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Marshals International Investigations Branch, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Cobb County Sheriff’s Department and Coos County Sheriff’s Department.

In August 2014, Kelley was featured as the U.S. Marshals “Fugitive of the Week” in New Hampshire. This local effort coincided with the nationally televised story about Mary Nunes and her kidnappers being aired August 31 on “The Hunt,” a CNN program hosted by John Walsh.

“I am pleased that Mary Nunes was found safe and Scott Kelley is in custody and will be extradited back to New Hampshire to face his charges,” said U.S. Marshal David Cargill, Jr. of the District of New Hampshire.

“I am thankful for all the interagency cooperation that has helped bring this arrest together today and the ability of investigators to talk with Mary and confirm she is safe.”

Since the inception of the New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 5,801 arrests (Updated as of 08/13/2014). These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 7 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.