Escaped Arizona Killer Tracy Province Captured; Search Continues for John McCluskey
Province was arrested in Wyoming town. Two other fugitives remain on the loose.
Aug. 9, 2010 — -- Police have captured escaped killer Tracy Province,one of two "extremely violent" prison escapees who have been on the run with their alleged accomplice since July 30.
The 42-year-old Province, who was serving a life sentence for murder and robbery, was captured at 6:20 a.m. in Meeteetse, Wyoming, about 60 miles outside of Yellowstone National Park. Yesterday, a woman recognized Province after talking to him on the steps of a local church.
"As soon as she sat down on her couch, up came the pictures of our escapees and she immediately identified him and positively identified him," U.S. Marshal David Gonzalez said at a press conference.
After using surveillance video to trace Province, U.S. Marshals and local police moved in to arrest him this morning.
He was captured without incident. Police say Province at first denied who he was but later admitted his identity.
At the time of his arrest, Province was holding a hitchiking sign that had "Casper" written on it, the name of a city in the center of the state, where he was likely headed. Police said that Province also had a nine millimeter handgun at the time of his arrest.
"He was relieved that this manhunt was over for him and that this long process was finally over for him," Gonzalez said.
'On McCluskey Like A Cheap Suit'
Meanwhile prison escapee John McCluskey and suspected accomplice Casslyn Welch remain on the lam. McCluskey was serving a 15 year prison sentence for attempted murder. Welch is McCluskey's fiance and cousin. All of the fugitives are believed to be be white supremacists and members of the Aryan Brotherhood.
"Rest assured, we are going to be on McCluskey like a cheap suit," Gonzalez said.
He reminded the public that there is a $40,000 reward for the capture of McCluskey.
"In situations like this, you got to be vigilant," Gonzales said. "If you see anything, call 911 and report it immediately."
Investigators said earlier today that they believed Province had separated from McCluskey and Welch in the last few days. The group had been sighted in Yellowstone National Park over the weekend.
Gonzalez said that McCluskey and Welch are no longer in Yellowstone National Park, but are in the vicinity. Investigators believe they are driving a gray Nissan Centra.
"They have nothing to lose," Gonzalez told ABC News earlier today. "We consider them very, extremely dangerous, violent. And when you have individuals who feel trapped, cornered, God knows where this could lead to."
ABC News consultant Brad Garrett said that each day McCluskey and Welch remain on the lam makes it harder for them to keep their cover.
"It's very difficult to remain on the lam because keep in mind everyone virtually knows what they look like at this point," Garrett said. "In my mind, it's clearly only a matter of time that they eventually will get caught."
Gonzalez doesn't rule out that friends or allies from the white supremacist network might be helping the couple.
"There are some enclaves in that part of the country and they have connections and friends in that area they might be headed to," he said.
There are more than a dozen extremist groups with links to white supremacists in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center website.
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