Sept. 30, 2008 — Escaped prisoner Derrick Fredericks is still on the loose, so V.I. residents should keep on the lookout, according to police.
Fredericks and two prisoners serving life sentences escaped Sept. 20 from St. Croix's Golden Grove Correctional Facility. One of the other two escapees was killed and the other recaptured, while Fredericks' whereabouts remain uncertain. (See "Second Escapee Captured Without Incident .")
"Fredericks is a dangerous criminal," said acting Police Chief Oakland Benta on Tuesday. "He is aware that the police are closing in on him and he will soon be captured. We know some of his associates are assisting him. There is no way he could have remained on the run for so long without help."
Fredericks has family and associates on all three U.S. Virgin Islands and in the British Virgin Islands, Benta said. He warned that anyone who assists Fredericks "even in the smallest way" will face possible jail time.
Fredericks has eluded police so far because of his habits, according to Benta.
"He is a night stalker," Benta said. "He roams at night and finds a hole to crawl into during the day."
Police ask that people make sure they secure their homes and businesses at night and when they leave during the day. Fredericks may attempt burglaries to steal food while he is on the run, Benta said.
Aiding or harboring an escaped criminal is a serious crime, the acting chief said.
"Anyone suspected or caught helping Fredericks will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Benta said.
Many people have been helping the investigation.
"The community has been very forthcoming with information during this time, the [V.I. Police Department] owes a debt of gratitude to everyone who has helped with this investigation," Benta said.
There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Fredericks.
Fredericks is described as a black male with a slim build and brownish complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He is about 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds. He has several tattoos on his arms, chest and back, and a gold tooth in the top front of his mouth. He is serving a five-year sentence for second-degree burglary.
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