Cherokee County double murder suspect in custody

Jeffrey Wilcox Jr.
Jeffrey Wilcox Jr.
photo Jeffrey Wilcox Jr.

The Alabama man on the run since Sunday in a double-homicide and kidnapping case in Cherokee County, Ala., has been captured in the town of Centre, not far from where the killings occurred.

Jeffrey Alan Wilcox Jr., 30, the suspect of a double homicide and kidnapping that occurred in the Tennala community early Sunday afternoon, is in custody, according to a statement from Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver.

Wilcox was taken into custody after a motorist reported a sighting of a vehicle matching the description of the Wilcox's Chevrolet Silverado on U.S. Highway 411 in Centre and called 911, Shaver said.

Dispatchers alerted Centre Police officers who started to follow Wilcox's truck.

Shaver said Wilcox turned into the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office parking lot where he was taken into custody without incident.

The victims were identified by Cherokee County Coroner Jeremy Deaton as Daniel Andrews and Letitia B. Andrews. The kidnapping victim, 30-year-old Chasidy Wilcox, is Letitia Andrews' daughter and Daniel Andrews step-daughter, officials. said.

"The kidnapped victim was inside the suspect's truck and appeared to be unharmed," Shaver said.

The Andrews couple were identified Tuesday by Cherokee County Coroner Jeremy Deaton as the victims in the killings. According to Sheriff Shaver, the suspect kidnapped his wife and fled the scene on Sunday, launching a three-day manhunt.

A $5,000 reward was offered on Tuesday for information in the case.

Shaver commended Cherokee County Major Crimes Unit investigators, the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, Calhoun County and Etowah County sheriff's offices and the Jackson State University Center for Applied Forensics for their work in the case.

Jeffrey Wilcox had no bond amount listed on jail records this morning.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.

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