MARSHALL COUNTY, MS (abc24.com) - On the run from Mississippi, captured in Illinois. Fugitive Xavier Parks is now locked up in a Chicago jail.
The Marshall County Sheriff's Department wanted Parks for the vicious attack on Charles Hardeman.
Deputies say Parks tied up the Mississippi teenager, threw him in a lake to drown, then set his house on fire. Parks is one of four suspects charged with the crime. All are now behind bars.
The investigation has taken longer than the sheriff's department expected. More people have helped with this case than they can count, including the FBI agents who just made this arrest.
"They received this information from an individual they were dealing with, from there the phones start ringing," says Major Kelly McMillen
FBI agents in Chicago were calling the Mid-South. Fugitive Xavier Parks had been found.
The Marshall County Sheriff's Department began working with the FBI long distance immediately. "Working by phone with the Southaven FBI office, through them to Chicago's office," McMillen says.
Parks' trail had gone cold.
"We weren't really sure where his location was until we got this phone call," McMillen tells abc24.com.
Deputies began searching for the known gang member in May.
They heard rumors he'd ran to Tennessee or Kentucky, but Parks wasn't spotted until this week. A special FBI task force captured him.
"They went to a location in Illinois. The FBI with the Chicago Safe Streets Task Force was able to take Parks into custody without any incident."
Investigators say Parks worked with Charles Hardeman's sister Ashely and two others to kidnap and rob the teen of $500.
They tied up Charles, threw him in a lake to drown and set his house on fire. He escaped, but suffered a stroke and crashed into a tree as he drove for help.
Now that all four are in jail, McMillen says the focus now moves to building an iron-clad case. He says investigators are always thinking of Charles.
"He's the one suffered through all this, of course his family too. He's lucky to be here and we're glad he's here. We'll do everything we can to help him from this point on," McMillen says.
Parks is charged with aggravated assault, kidnapping, armed robbery and arson. Deputies are waiting to hear back from the FBI on when he'll be transported back to Mississippi.
