By Elizabeth Ridenour
Assistant City Editor
December 05, 2007 01:11 am
—
A Texas couple who eluded police for 17 years was captured Tuesday afternoon in Muskogee, said Lt. Bryan Stark of the Muskogee Police Department.
Robert Glen Vail, 73, and Elnora Ann Vail, 63, were arrested at 4:45 p.m. at 622 Jefferson St. They are being held in the Muskogee County/City Detention Facility.
Robert Vail was wanted in Bexar County, Texas, after being indicted in April 1990 for sexual assault on a child. His wife was indicted at the same time for injury to a child. Both were arrested on fugitive warrants.
The Special Investigations Unit received information from FBI Special Agent Mike Beaver about the couple.
“We went to the door in plain clothes and made contact with the wife,” Stark said. “We took both into custody without incident.”
Robert Vail has previous convictions in Texas — one in 1954 for armed robbery and one in 1978 for grand larceny, Stark said.
Police determined the couple has been in Muskogee at least since 2005. Stark said police were especially glad to get these suspects into custody.
“There’s no more serious offense in my mind than sexual assault on a child,” he said.
Stark did not have the facts of the case and planned to be in touch with Texas officials today.
He said he believed the couple may have had an idea that an arrest was imminent.
“She made mention of speaking to an attorney recently,” he said.
The Vails are expected to be in Muskogee County District Court today where they will agree to be extradited to Texas, or an extradition hearing will be scheduled, Stark said.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.