UPDATE: Georgia Murder Suspects - Extradition Waived

Jun 16, 2017 at 11:29 am by bryan


The two men that sparked a nationwide manhunt after allegedly murdering two Georgia corrections officers were in a Rutherford County Courtroom. It was just a few hours after being apprehended on Pruitt Road, near I-24.

Donnie Rowe and Ricky DuBose waived extradition back to Georgia to face many charges. The manhunt went on for several days, ending after the duo reportedly tied up a Shelbyville couple, fled toward Murfreesboro and were eventually caught trying to steal a vehicle on Pruitt Road.

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BELOW: Reported as it happened on WGNS

The nationwide manhunt for two Georgia inmates, suspected of killing two corrections officers in an escape from a prisoner transport bus this week, ended Thursday (6/15/2017) night in rural Rutherford County along I-24 eastbound and the Epps Mill Road area.

(L-R in mugshot, this is an updated mugshot that was made when they were brought into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center 6/15/2017) 43-year old Donnie Russell Rowe and 24-year old Ricky Dubose crashed on Interstate-24, just past the Buchanan Road exit, at the eastbound 91 mile marker. Tennessee Highway Patrol Lieutenant Bill Miller told NewsRadio WGNS what happened . . .

(Time: 38-seconds)

At the time of the crash, the escapees were being pursued by Rutherford County deputies. WGNS asked Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh when his deputies got involved . . .

(Time: 42-seconds)

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Public Information Officer Josh Devine said his teams had a long night ahead of them . . .

(Time: 46-seconds)

Once in Bedford County, the two convicted felons tied-up a couple up on Kindree Road in Shelbyville and then stole their black Jeep and sped toward Murfreesboro.

The pursuit went along State Highway 231-South, then eastbound onto I-24 at the South Church Street ramp. Speeds of up to 100 miles per hour were clocked by pursuing officers.

Rutherford County Sheriff Fitzhugh learned who the suspects were just before they crashed at eastbound mile marker 91. Then the two escapees, wanted for murder, fled on foot toward homes. In fact, Rutherford County deputies spotted the wanted vehicle jut two-minutes after the BOLO was issued by the Bedford County Sheriff's Office . . .

(Time: 32-seconds)

Donnie Russell Rowe and Ricky Dubose were arrested around 6:00 o'clock Thursday (6/16/2017) evening at a home on Pruitt Road after a lengthy foot pursuit through a wooded area.

The two escapees are believed to have been in this area, because Donnie Russell Rowe is from Lewisburg.

Sheriff Fitzhugh noted, "Our deputies did an outstanding job in pursuing and apprehending them".

Fitzhugh talked with Putnam County (Georgia) Sheriff Howard Sills, who was very appreciative.

Georgia's Sheriff Sills commented, "This was a brutal double murder of two correctional officers that occurred in my county. In 43 years, this has been the most intense manhunt I've ever been involved in with the most resources with state, local and federal offices and obviously other states."

When the Georgia sheriff learned of the pursuit and later capture, he said, "I was extremely fearful for law enforcement officers. It's an ideal situation in the end. I am grateful to everybody and thankful to God himself for minimizing any further harm to anyone."

Sheriff Sills thanked the Rutherford and Bedford County Sheriff's Offices and all the state, local and federal agencies who participated in the apprehension.

There were multiple agencies involved in the pursuit and nearly 40 officers. By the time of Thursday night's arrest, the rewards for the two had grown to $130,000.

The saga began this past Tuesday (6/13/2017) morning on a rural highway in Madison County, Georgia, just south of Atlanta. Rowe and Dubose were on a state corrections bus with 31 other prisoners. Somehow they escaped the locked caged area, and reportedly entered the driver's compartment where they overpowered and disarmed the two Georgia Corrections Officers. One of the escapees is then believed to have shot and killed Sergeant Christopher Monica and Sergeant Curtis Billue. Then Rowe and Dubose reportedly jumped off the prison transport unit, and carjacked a vehicle that pulled-up behind the bus.

Rowe was serving a sentence of up to life in prison for armed robbery and aggravated assault in a 2001 case. Dubose was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for armed robbery, aggravated assault and theft in 2014. He also was convicted of theft and identity fraud in cases from August, 2010.

Donnie Russell Rowe and Ricky Dubose are locked in the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center in Murfreesboro, awaiting extradition to Georgia.

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