FIRST ON 3: Suspects in Columbus Co. murder arrested in Oklahoma
TABOR CITY, NC (WWAY) — The suspects in a Columbus County murder have been arrested more than a 1,000 miles away from the scene.
The Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force arrested 32-year-old Amber Hitchcock,who also goes by Amber Sanders, and 39-year-old William Forney today in Tulsa.
According the US Marshals Office, neighbors in Columbus County noticed a resident’s car speeding away Saturday from his home with the alarm sounding. Around the same time, a local police officer was flagged down about a vehicle matching that description in a hotel parking lot. When that officer arrived, hotel staff stated that the vehicle pulled up to a room, loaded belongings and had just left.
Authorities also responded to Long’s home, where he died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Based on the description from neighbors and hotel staff, authorities identified Hitchcock and Forney as the suspects.
Earlier this week, Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office deputies recovered Long’s car from the Verdigris River in Oklahoma. Investigators in the area were alerted to the suspects being in town. They found that the couple had been staying at a Tulsa hotel.
This morning, they were were taken in to Tulsa County Jail where they’ll await extradition to North Carolina.
At this time, investigators have no motive for the crime.
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