The Pembroke man who escaped Saturday night from the Emanuel County jail was captured late Monday night at his mother’s home in that town.
FBI officials Tuesday released more information about their capture of Cecil “Red” Dewitt Nelson who escaped with five other prisoners from the facility in Swainsboro.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark F. Giuliano said Nelson was arrested without incident at the location agents expected he’d fled to.
Nelson pleaded guilty Aug. 16 in federal court to one count of conspiracy to kidnap for his part in a scheme to kidnap two Bryan County businessmen and hold them for ransom. Co-defendant Gary Lenion “Geethang” McDonald of Statesboro pleaded guilty to the same charge in July, and Antonio Lamont “Mont” Murray of Pembroke was convicted by a federal jury of kidnapping in August.
Prosecutors contended Nelson, McDonald and Murray had invaded two victims’ homes between Nov. 29, 2011, and Jan. 23, terrorized them for ransom and used firearms in furtherance of their schemes. An indictment charged that $19,000 was paid for the release of the first victim and $250,000 was demanded for the release of the second victim. Both men were released after the ransoms were paid.
Tuesday afternoon, Giuliano said two of the escapees remained at large; they were not believed to be in the Savannah area.
The FBI thanked the Pembroke Police Department, Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshal’s Service, and the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office for their help in finding Nelson.