VIDEO: Escaped TN inmate arrested in Greenville Co., extradited back
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that an escaped Tennessee inmate was taken into custody in Greenville County on July 4 following multiple searches.
Deputies said the inmate, Billy Fletcher, was arrested at 8:38 p.m. along Sulphur Springs Road after SLED received a tip about his location. Law enforcement has been searching for Fletcher since he walked off from his work detail at the Carter County Detention Center in Tennessee and escaped on June 20.
Carter County Sheriff’s Office officials said they believe Fletcher could be connected to a missing man named Victor Birchfield from the same area.
“We are now awaiting Fletcher’s extradition back to Tennessee to face an escape charge,” Carter County Sheriff Mike Fraley said. “This is very much still an active investigation into Fletcher’s escape and how it is connected with the disappearance of Victor Birchfield.”
Birchfield’s daughter reported him missing on June 21 along with his silver 2004 Toyota 4Runner.
The 4Runner was located in South Carolina.
“We are still putting together the facts of these investigations,” Fraley said. “When we are able to piece together more details of this case, we will release additional details.”
Fletcher was immediately extradited back to Tennessee following his hearing.
The search for 61-year-old Victor Birchfield is ongoing. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Carter County Sheriff’s Office at 423-542-1845 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
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