ARKANSAS, USA — The Conway County Sheriff's Office confirmed on Thursday morning that Stacy Lee Drake — a man that authorities had been searching for in connection to multiple recent killings — is now in custody.
50-year-old Stacy Lee Drake is suspected of multiple killings across Alabama and Oklahoma and was believed to be on the run and armed and dangerous, the Arkansas State Police (ASP) announced to the public on Wednesday, June 19.
Police say Drake has a homicide warrant out of Alabama, where he lives, and is suspected of three other homicides in Oklahoma, including a double homicide in Sequoyah County on Tuesday, June 18.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) says Drake is also wanted for aggravated robbery and carjacking in addition to the homicides.
While ASP said in a statement on Wednesday that Drake is wanted for three homicides in Oklahoma stemming from two separate carjackings, Hunter McKee with OSBI says as of Wednesday afternoon, Drake is only their person of interest in the Sequoyah County double homicide.
"So I know that the Arkansas State Police put out a post, and they had talked about other crimes being committed," McKee told 5NEWS on Wednesday. "Right now, we are not connecting this person of interest with any other crime at this point, besides the double homicide in Gans."
McKee said that other crimes that have possibly been committed are still being investigated by OSBI and they are working "to piece that together the best we can."
The Fort Smith Police Department said on Wednesday that Drake has "ties to Fort Smith." We've reached out to FSPD who could only confirm previous encounters with Drake dating back over a decade.
While the timeline of Drake's alleged crimes is tough to lay out based on the confirmed information available, 5NEWS has put together what we know so far:
Sequoyah County deaths
Deputies were called to LaFerry's Propane in Gans on Highway 64 at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18.
Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane said deputies were on the scene with OSBI agents and found two people dead.
OSBI hasn't released how investigators believe those two victims— only identified by Sheriff Lane at this time as a man and a woman who were employees at LaFerry's— were killed, however, they "sustained injuries consistent with homicide," OSBI said in a press release Wednesday morning.
Drake was identified as the suspect in the double homicide by multiple agencies on Wednesday, including OSBI, ASP, and the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office. ASP said the LaFerry's killings were the result of a carjacking.
Prior to the double homicide, Sheriff Lane said they believe Drake spent three days in the Maple, Akins, Hanson, and Central communities. Deputies are asking residents to reach out if they think they saw, spoke, or know about his whereabouts while he was in the area.
The truck he was believed to have been driving while in the area was found on East Redwood near the low water slab on Saturday, June 15.
SCSO deputies will be in the area talking to residents and asking the community to check with their friends and neighbors.
According to the Morrilton Police Department, the vehicle stolen during the LaFerry's killings was found 125 miles east in Morrilton, Ark., about a 2-hour drive on Interstate 40.
Stolen vehicle found
That stolen vehicle was found by officers in Morrilton at a local hotel Tuesday night, the Morrilton Police Department said in a Facebook post.
Morrilton police did say Drake was believed to be armed with a handgun, "and he is very dangerous." An emergency alert was sent out about Drake, calling him an "armed man."
Morrilton Police Chief Sonny Stover said they are checking surveillance footage in the area that could've caught Drake on camera.
Authorities believe Drake purchased camping gear prior to him being found. "Arkansas State Police urges the public to exercise caution as Drake is believed to be armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees Drake should not approach him and should call 911 immediately."
Charges Filed
Just hours after his arrest, multiple murder charges were filed against Drake in Sequoyah County.
In a release from District Attorney Jack Thorp, the victims in the double homicide were identified as Tara Underwood and Taylor Sharp, who were found with apparent gunshot wounds.
“This senseless and violent act is truly heartbreaking,” Thorp said. “These victims and their loved ones deserve justice, and we will fight to see that done.”
The release says that surveillance video from LaFerry's shows Drake entering the business, eventually exiting and driving away in a car belonging to one of the victims.
The charges filed include two counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery with a weapon.
“I am extremely grateful for the hard work and dedication shown by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the OSBI,” Thorp said. “I would also like to thank law enforcement in Arkansas from the Morrilton Police Department, the Arkansas State Police, and the Conway County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in locating and apprehending this violent criminal.”
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