Fugitive captured by U.S. Marshals

A Jackson County man added to the U.S. Marshal’s 15 Most Wanted List just yesterday has been arrested in Oklahoma.

Less than 24 hours after he was added to the U.S. Marshal’s Most Wanted List for allegedly faking his own death in Alabama to avoid child rape charges involving his 14-year-old stepdaughter, Oklahoma law enforcement received a tip about Jacob Scott’s whereabouts in an RV park in Antlers, Oklahoma Wednesday night. Jeremy Stilwell with the U.S. Marshal’s Service said, “They were able to locate the RV and they attempted to make call outs at the RV to get the occupants to exit the RV. After a few minutes, an individual fitting the description of Jacob exited the RV. He came out, he was questioned and he initially would not provide any information to the U.S. Marshals Service.”

Marshals and law enforcement identified Scott by his tattoos. He eventually revealed his name and was taken into custody. It’s believed Scott may have been in Oklahoma for around two years after the fake suicide attempt. “He is currently being held at the Pittsburg County Jail, and he is pending an initial appearance in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, United States District Court.”

The 43-year-old faces extradition back to Mississippi and a litany of charges including sexual battery, touching a child for lustful purposes, and exploitation of a child. 19^th Circuit Court District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said, “At this point, our office will continue with the prosecution and seeking justice for this victim, and we just want to extend our deepest gratitude to law enforcement for the hard work y’all did on this case.”

While the legal process still has to play out, local law enforcement officials are glad the manhunt is over. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said, “Our citizens are first, and we’re going to do that and we’re going to protect our citizens with every means available.”