Putnam Escapees Captured, To Be Charged With Murder

Two men suspected of killing a woman after they broke out of a Putnam County jail were caught Saturday evening when deputies acting on a tip chased them down on foot and tackled them.

The capture of Doni Ray Brown and Timothy Wayne Fletcher ended a multistate search for two men who investigators believe made it as far away as Kentucky before returning to the area.

"Why they would come back to Putnam County is unknown. We're just glad we have them in custody," Sheriff Jeff Hardy said.

The two will be charged with murder in the death of Fletcher's 66-year-old relative Helen Googe, whose body was found hours after the breakout on Wednesday, Hardy said.

Hardy said an informant tipped off deputies Saturday that Brown and Fletcher were back in Putnam County. The caller said the two were in a car with Tennessee plates. Investigators were able to narrow their search later after receiving a call about two suspicious men in a green vehicle.

A dragnet of 80 law enforcement officers from various agencies locked down the southern part of the county.

After finding a vehicle, which Hardy said the pair had stolen in Tennessee, investigators used helicopters and police dogs to search for the men.

Deputies narrowed the search about 6 p.m. after one of the escapees attempted to telephone a family member and dispatchers were able to determine the call was made from a pay phone at the Pamona Park Flea Market. As officers arrived, the two men bolted into the woods, but were captured almost immediately.

"These were two dangerous guys, and I can't tell you how relieved we are that they're back in custody and we're the ones who got them," said Lt. Johnny Greenwood, a spokesman for the sheriff's office.

As of Saturday, the only charge lodged against the two was an escape charge, although they are also accused of stealing a truck and car in Florida, a car in Kentucky and a car in Tennessee. More charges are pending.

"They will be charged with murder, both of them," Hardy said.

The men were taken back to sheriff's office Saturday night, but Hardy said they will be housed at an undisclosed location in another county.

A nationwide alert also had been put out for the two men after a car stolen from Googe, Fletcher's step-grandmother, was found in Kentucky.

Brown, 23, of Satsuma and Fletcher, 25, of Welaka, fled the jail about 4 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said. The cellmates were able to escape by ripping out a sink and toilet combination from the wall using a jack Fletcher apparently stole from a county van while returning from a court appearance.

They crawled through the hole in the wall, went out a door to the outside. Then they dug under one fence and were able to get through a second one.

Brown had been arrested Aug. 17 and charged with robbery with a firearm. Fletcher was arrested March 3 on three counts of failure to appear on an aggravated assault charge.

The sheriff said that tougher security procedures will be put in place at the jail to prevent future escapes.

Brown's sister told Channel 4 that Brown was trying to arrange his surrender, but Hardy said that didn't happen.

"He wanted to turn himself in," Amanda Brown said. "He wanted to get away from Timonty, because Timothy is very dangerous."

The two men were not returned to the Putnam County Jail, but kept at a maximum security facility in another county. Hardy said they will not be sharing the same cell.

Previous Stories:

• April 18, 2009: Escapee's Family Reacts To Jail Break
• April 17, 2009: US Marshals Join Search For Putnam Fugitives
• April 16, 2009: Grandfather Of Escaped Inmate Heartbroken Over Killing
• April 16, 2009: Escapees Connected To Slaying May Be In Kentucky
• April 15, 2009: Manhunt Continues For Jail Escapees