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Linn County escapee, two others captured
Two Linn County fugitives and the prisoner they helped escape from custody more than a week ago are expected to be transported back to Linn County on Thursday.
Neosho Police Department (Mo.) arrested Bobby L. Crowder, Rebecca Darnell, and Melissa Crowder shortly before 4 p.m. Monday. The three were hiding inside a house on the 600 block of Young Street in Neosho, Mo., Det. Jason Baird said.
Darnell, 47, Neosho, Mo., is Bobby's mother and Melissa Crowder, 26, Fort Scott, is his estranged wife.
Crowder, 21, ran from a Linn County correctional officer on April 23 at the correctional facility in Mound City. He was supposed to be transported back to the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center in Fort Scott, where he had been serving time on a probation violation.
After running from the officer, he jumped into a Buick passenger vehicle that law enforcement authorities said Darnell was driving. Melissa Crowder was also alleged to be inside the vehicle. Officials said they believed the car traveled south on Kansas Highway 7 after the escape.
Crowder's hands were in restraints at the time of the escape, but his feet were free, which enabled him to run from the officer. Linn County authorities said they believed the three had planned the escape.
According to Neosho police, they found Crowder hiding in a closet at the Neosho residence. Melissa Crowder was in a bedroom, and Darnell was in the living room, Baird said.
Baird said police received a call from Bourbon County Undersheriff Ron Gray shortly before the arrests about where the three could be hiding.
Gray followed several investigative leads to determine a possible location of where the three were located, he said. He would not comment any further on specifics of his investigation.
The three were booked into the Newton County, Mo., jail at 3:52 p.m. Monday. Crowder was arrested for being a fugitive from justice. Melissa Crowder and Darnell were booked on helping a prisoner escape. Owen Moten, owner of the home where they were found, was also arrested for harboring the fugitives.
Baird said the three cooperated with police once they were found in the home.