Painesville,
OH – Convicted sex offender Willard Wigfield, 32, was arrested by the U.S.
Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force and Osceola County Sheriff’s
deputies at approximately 5:30 pm on July 23rd, 2013. Wigfield was on bond
after pleading guilty to a charge of rape and a warrant was issued after he
failed to appear for his sentencing in Lake County Common Pleas Court on
Monday, July 8th, 2013. As a condition of the bond, Wigfield was wearing an
electronic monitoring device that was sending signals from the Tuscarawas River
near New Philadelphia, OH at the time he was supposed to be in court. An
extensive search of the river by local authorities failed to locate Wigfield or
the device.
The
U.S. Marshals Service, along with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and
Mentor-on-the-Lake Police, immediately launched an investigation and quickly
developed evidence that Wigfield had cut off his bracelet, faked suicide, and
was on the run.
During
the late night hours of July 9th, 2013 investigators developed information that
Wigfield traveled to Orlando, FL and Osceola County Sheriff’s Deputies were
dispatched to a hotel to attempt to arrest him. When deputies arrived Wigfield
was no longer in the room, however they did locate 33 year old Robert Mahaffey
of New Philadelphia, OH. Florida authorities arrested Mahaffey for his
involvement in Wigfield’s flight from Ohio. Mahaffey, who had been identified
as a close family friend of Wigfield, is still being held in the Osceola County
Jail on the first degree felony charge of accessory after the fact to the crime
of rape.
Task
Force investigators discovered that on Friday, July 5th, 2013 Wigfield made
known his plans to flee and enlisted the help of his sister, Stephanie Smith of
Coshocton. Smith rented a vehicle for her brother, and the vehicle was
recovered by police at the Florida hotel. On Wednesday, July 10th members of
the Task Force traveled to Coshocton, and with the help of the Coshocton County
Sheriff and Prosecutor, obtained an arrest warrant charging Smith with
Obstructing Justice, a third degree felony. Smith was arrested on the warrant
and her case in pending.
Investigators
turned to the public for help by disseminating Wigfield’s information to local
and national media outlets. Tips began flooding in and Marshals followed up on
leads in several states. The most promising leads led investigators right back
to an area not far from where Wigfield was last seen. The investigation by the
Florida Task Force began focusing on an area around the 3100 block of Parkway
Blvd. near Kissimmee, FL. This area is a popular tourist destination with many
hotels, motels and apartments, which makes it a very easy place for someone to
blend in. The Florida Task Force responded by patrolling the area and surveillance
was conducted on multiple locations.
On
July 23rd the Florida Regional Task Force again established surveillance in the
area and late in the afternoon an alert Deputy observed what they believed to
be Wigfield’s dog being walked by a person who was not the suspect. The Deputy
recognized the dog from photos that were disseminated early in the
investigation. The team followed the individual walking the dog and it lead
them to Wigfield, who was standing in a parking lot. As the Task Force
approached Wigfield, he ran into a swampy, wooded area. The Marshal’s, aware of
Wigfield’s previous flight from police, were prepared with a helicopter and K-9
units from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. The helicopter was able to
track Wigfield’s movements through the swamp and when he began making his way
towards a busy interstate a K-9 was deployed. When the K-9 reached Wigfield he
refused to surrender and began kicking the dog while trying to run. Wigfield
was taken into custody moments later and was transported to a local hospital by
Osceola County EMS to be treated for injuries related to the struggle with the
K-9. Wigfield is being guarded by armed Officers at the Florida Hospital until
he is medically cleared for release. Florida authorities will hold Wigfield until
he is extradited back to the State of Ohio.
Assistant
Chief Deputy Marshal Andrew Deserto stated, "We are relieved that this
sexual predator is back in custody and will soon be facing the sentence he
attempted to avoid. Great work to all the law enforcement officers involved in
Ohio and Florida."
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
1-866-4WANTED or Text keyword WANTED and tip to TIP411 (847411) Tipsters can
remain anonymous and reward money is available.
The
Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Painesville Division is composed of
the following federal, state and local agencies: U.S. Marshals Service, Lake,
Geauga and Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Offices, Lake County Narcotic’s Agency
Ashtabula County Adult Probation, Mentor Police Department, Painesville Police
Department, Willoughby Police Department, Willoughby Hills Police Department,
Wickliffe Police Department, Eastlake Police Department, Willowick Police
Department, Mentor on the Lake Police Department, Middlefield Police
Department, Burton Police Department, Chester Township Police Department,
Ashtabula Police Department, Conneaut Police Department, and the North Kingsville
Police Department.