GRANVILLE COUNTY, N.C. — A violent crimes task force, made up of officers from 15 local jurisdictions, has captured a convicted murderer who was living free for three decades.
The U.S. Marshal's violent crimes task force said 80-year-old Johnny Van Ellis escaped from prison in Granville County in 1974 while serving a life sentence for second-degree murder.
The task force got the case Tuesday morning and by Wednesday afternoon, WRAL was with them when they went on the move.
Law enforcement officers saw Ellis sitting in a truck at a friend's house and was taken into custody without incident.
Task force members said it usually takes longer to arrest a fugitive and usually the arrests are not so peaceful. Last year alone, the task force made 392 violent fugitive arrests.
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