Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office have located and arrested an escaped inmate from Carter County, Tennessee.Billy Reed Fletcher was handcuffed as he appeared before a judge for a bond hearing on Friday. "My job as the judge is to make sure that you're treated fairly, and I can assure you by signing this document, you're not admitting to any guilt," Judge James Hudson said.Fletcher was then denied bond and handed over to Tennessee authorities for extradition. Pictures of Fletcher are below:The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division sent an alert June 30 about the 43-year-old Fletcher.The alert said Fletcher escaped the Carter County Detention Center in Tennessee on June 20.The authorities said that Fletcher was spotted on June 24 leaving the Walmart on Whitehorse Road in Greenville County.The Carter County Sheriff’s Office said Fletcher walked off from work detail at the Carter County Jail. The agency said Fletcher was being housed for a violation of probation.Authorities said Fletcher had been serving time for attempted aggravated burglary.Officials say Fletcher may be connected to Victor Birchfield, a missing Tennessee man."Right now, we just have such a huge span of places that my dad could be," said Tiffany Cole, Birchfield's daughter. "We just want to narrow that down, so we can find him. Of course, our hope is that he's still alive and well and that we can bring him home."Cole said Fletcher was seen on video wearing several of her father's belongings, such as his hat and sunglasses, and a backpack that belongs to her children. "I am angry. I am angry that Fletcher was allowed to leave the detention center," she said. "I don't suspect he was wearing my dad's items. I know for a fact that those belongings belonged to my children and my dad and came out of my dad's vehicle."SLED confirmed authorities searched for Fletcher on Wednesday night, July 3 in the area of Whitehorse Road and Toby Lane in the wooded area next to the Long John Silver's and Walmart located on Whitehorse Road that Fletcher was spotted at on June 24.Deputy Carrie Weimer said SLED received a tip, leading deputies to his location on Sulphur Springs Road in Greenville, South Carolina on July 4. Video was released of Fletcher's arrest that happened at 8:38 p.m., Thursday. It showed Fletcher and another person crossing the street before a Greenville County deputy parks and takes Fletcher into custody without incident.Cole said she has no idea where her father could be and hopes Fletcher could provide some answers as to his whereabouts. Until then, she said she is holding onto hope and remembering her father's favorite motto."If you don't mind, it doesn't matter, so if you can't fix it in five minutes, if you can't do anything about it, don't let it sit on you," she recalled. "Unfortunately, in the 34 years of my life, my dad has not taught me what you do when it matters because I mind, and this matters."Cole said she is doing her best to keep herself and her children off of social media while everything continues to unfold. She said she is thankful for deputies for finding Fletcher, but she is asking anyone who may know where her father is to call authorities.
Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office have located and arrested an escaped inmate from Carter County, Tennessee.
Billy Reed Fletcher was handcuffed as he appeared before a judge for a bond hearing on Friday.
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"My job as the judge is to make sure that you're treated fairly, and I can assure you by signing this document, you're not admitting to any guilt," Judge James Hudson said.
Fletcher was then denied bond and handed over to Tennessee authorities for extradition.
Pictures of Fletcher are below:
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division sent an alert June 30 about the 43-year-old Fletcher.
The alert said Fletcher escaped the Carter County Detention Center in Tennessee on June 20.
The authorities said that Fletcher was spotted on June 24 leaving the Walmart on Whitehorse Road in Greenville County.
The Carter County Sheriff’s Office said Fletcher walked off from work detail at the Carter County Jail. The agency said Fletcher was being housed for a violation of probation.
Authorities said Fletcher had been serving time for attempted aggravated burglary.
Officials say Fletcher may be connected to Victor Birchfield, a missing Tennessee man.
"Right now, we just have such a huge span of places that my dad could be," said Tiffany Cole, Birchfield's daughter. "We just want to narrow that down, so we can find him. Of course, our hope is that he's still alive and well and that we can bring him home."
Cole said Fletcher was seen on video wearing several of her father's belongings, such as his hat and sunglasses, and a backpack that belongs to her children.
"I am angry. I am angry that Fletcher was allowed to leave the detention center," she said. "I don't suspect he was wearing my dad's items. I know for a fact that those belongings belonged to my children and my dad and came out of my dad's vehicle."
SLED confirmed authorities searched for Fletcher on Wednesday night, July 3 in the area of Whitehorse Road and Toby Lane in the wooded area next to the Long John Silver's and Walmart located on Whitehorse Road that Fletcher was spotted at on June 24.
Deputy Carrie Weimer said SLED received a tip, leading deputies to his location on Sulphur Springs Road in Greenville, South Carolina on July 4.
Greenville County Sheriff’s Office
Video was released of Fletcher's arrest that happened at 8:38 p.m., Thursday. It showed Fletcher and another person crossing the street before a Greenville County deputy parks and takes Fletcher into custody without incident.
Cole said she has no idea where her father could be and hopes Fletcher could provide some answers as to his whereabouts.
Until then, she said she is holding onto hope and remembering her father's favorite motto.
"If you don't mind, it doesn't matter, so if you can't fix it in five minutes, if you can't do anything about it, don't let it sit on you," she recalled. "Unfortunately, in the 34 years of my life, my dad has not taught me what you do when it matters because I mind, and this matters."
Cole said she is doing her best to keep herself and her children off of social media while everything continues to unfold.
She said she is thankful for deputies for finding Fletcher, but she is asking anyone who may know where her father is to call authorities.
