According to ice.gov, “US Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the capture of a fugitive wanted for murder who escaped custody twice in the Caribbean. Orville Andrew Pernell, a 32-year-old Jamaican citizen was apprehended by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agents in Savannah, Georgia following an extensive investigation and multinational manhunt April 4.
Pernell, is accused of committing a brutal murder in St Lucia in 2020 and had been a fugitive for several years. He escaped from custody in St Lucia during his murder trial and fled to Jamaica. In 2021, he was arrested in Jamaica and escaped from custody there as well. US Border Patrol agents encountered Pernell on December 7, 2022, near San Ysidro, California, after he attempted to enter the United States using a fake identity. He was paroled into the country and given a notice to appear.”
Pernell is wanted by Saint Lucian police for the murder of Cleus Alfred of Ravine Macock at Trouya in St Lucia on August 25, 2020.
Alfred’s body was discovered in a pool of blood on the road at Trouya after residents reported hearing the sound of gunshots.
He was arrested and was in police custody at the Babonneau Police Station in St Lucia when he reportedly used a sharp instrument to cut through steel bars and made his escape from a cell, which he shared with three other detainees in October 2020.
The ICE statement continued, “In July of 2023, Pernell was arrested by the Clayton County Sheriff in Clayton County, Georgia for the possession of a stolen motorcycle and attempting to evade arrest. During the arrest, police discovered a stolen 9mm handgun.
“We are committed to tracking down fugitives who pose a serious threat to public safety, no matter where they may try to hide,” said ICE HSI Special Agent in Charge Atlanta Steven N. Schrank, who also covers Georgia and Alabama. “This operation highlights our ongoing work to dismantle criminal networks and bring violent individuals to justice. We are thankful for our local, state, and international law enforcement partners who helped us secure this arrest.”
ICE HSI, working alongside the ATF, located and arrested Pernell after their investigation led them to the Savannah area. He was taken was taken into custody without incident. Pernell faces charges for being an alien in possession of weapon and after he is extradited back to St Lucia he will stand trial for murder.
ICE HSI Caribbean, Bridgetown and Kingston provided significant contributions to the investigation and were instrumental in the success of the operation. ICE HSI prioritizes the apprehension of fugitives involved in violent crimes, particularly those who have fled to the U.S. to evade justice.”
