AMW on the Road: Belize - John Walsh and the AMW crew were last week shooting in Belize, in Central America, for an episode that will highlight the global reach of the show's manhunt. Robert Snyder, a child predator who went on the run from Fort Collins, Colo., after failing to register as a sex offender, thought he could hide in Belize. But some avid AMW viewers proved him wrong. Snyder had no idea that AMW is broadcast in Belize -- and is a very popular show there. When America's Most Wanted profiled Snyder, a 12-year-old girl recognized him as the chess teacher at her Belize City school. Her mother sent in the tip -- and U.S. authorities teamed up with police in Belize to take Snyder down. America's Most Wanted features Belize in their website and the footage filmed here will be aired on Saturday, February 27, 2010. (Click here to visit the Belize Feature on AMW)
John Walsh shoots in downtown San Pedro
John Walsh meets with Sheena Stuart and her daughter, Cree, during AMW's shoot in Belize. Cree recognized Robert Snyder as one of the teachers at her school, and her tip led to his arrest.
BELMOPAN, Belize, September 23, 2009 - A former United States deputy sheriff, featured on the popular television series America's Most Wanted, has been captured in Belize and is to be extradited to face trial for murdering his wife and another man a year ago.
Derrick Yancey was caught over the weekend in a bar in Punta Gorda, the largest town in southern Belize, just days after the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service acted on a lead that he was hiding out in that Caribbean country.
Deputy Officer in Charge at the Punta Gorda Police Station, Inspector Andres Makin, said Yancey was taken into custody without incident. "We had his photograph in our possession and upon identifying ourselves, he just handed over himself. There was no resistance in his arrest," he said, adding that Yancey was taken to the station in the area before being transported to Belize City.
"I believe that relevant arrangement is being made for him to transported back to the United States...He is in custody and a flight away from being taken back to the United States."
Yancey was an officer with the Sheriff's Office in Dekalb County, Georgia when he was charged with murdering his wife Linda Yancey, 44, and 20-year-old laborer Marcial Cax Puluc in August 2008.
He had called into his own department to report that he had shot and killed Puluc in self defense after discovering that the young man had robbed, shot and killed his wife. But police say ballistic tests show Yancey was responsible for both murders.
He was charged with two counts of murder, and released on US$150,000 bond while he awaited trial, under the condition that he be confined to house arrest. But Yancey escaped house arrest from his mother's home on the morning of April 4th, 2009.
Police say he cut off his electronic monitoring ankle bracelet before fleeing. (from Caribbean 360)
AMW on the Road: Belize - John Walsh and the AMW crew were last week shooting in Belize, in Central America, for an episode that will highlight the global reach of the show's manhunt. Robert Snyder, a child predator who went on the run from Fort Collins, Colo., after failing to register as a sex offender, thought he could hide in Belize. But some avid AMW viewers proved him wrong. Snyder had no idea that AMW is broadcast in Belize -- and is a very popular show there. When America's Most Wanted profiled Snyder, a 12-year-old girl recognized him as the chess teacher at her Belize City school. Her mother sent in the tip -- and U.S. authorities teamed up with police in Belize to take Snyder down. America's Most Wanted features Belize in their website and the footage filmed here will be aired on Saturday, February 27, 2010. (Click here to visit the Belize Feature on AMW)
John Walsh shoots in downtown San Pedro
John Walsh meets with Sheena Stuart and her daughter, Cree, during AMW's shoot in Belize. Cree recognized Robert Snyder as one of the teachers at her school, and her tip led to his arrest.
