A “very dangerous” armed criminal accused of at least three murders across two states has been apprehended following an intense two-day manhunt. Stacy Lee Drake, 50, was arrested around 10 a.m. Thursday by the Morrilton Police Department and Arkansas State Police, according to a news release from the Conway County Sheriff’s Office in Arkansas.
Drake was found hiding in the woods near the intersection of University Boulevard and Poor Farm Road, just west of a Walmart. He was linked to the murder of a man and woman in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, whose bodies were discovered at a business around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Additionally, Drake is accused of the May 14 murder of 62-year-old Russell Andrews in Alabama, as reported by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Stacy Lee Drake, described as extremely dangerous, is currently held at the Conway County Detention Center. The authorities have not yet released further details. Drake’s last known address was in Birmingham, Alabama. According to Capt. Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s Office, Drake had been in Tuscaloosa a few weeks before the murder, using a false name. While the Oklahoma victims’ identities remain officially undisclosed, one victim in the double homicide has been named by family as Taylor Sharp. Before Drake’s capture, Sharp’s family urged the public to exercise caution if they encountered him, seeking both prayers and justice for their nephew.
The arrest followed a tip received by Morrilton police from state police on Tuesday about a stolen vehicle parked at a local hotel, which had been spotted at the Oklahoma murder scene. The manhunt began in earnest, with Arkansas State Police warning Morrilton residents to remain vigilant. Drake had purchased camping equipment, suggesting he was still in the Morrilton area, approximately 50 miles northwest of Little Rock.
Drake is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, including charges of burglary, kidnapping, armed robbery, and aggravated assault on an officer. In 2010, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison for carjacking, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and brandishing a gun during the carjacking. According to the Tuscaloosa FBI office, Drake’s criminal activities included threatening a man with a .45 caliber pistol outside a grocery store, stealing his wallet, food, and red GMC truck. This incident led to a police chase and his capture after an eight-mile pursuit. At the time of his arrest, Drake was also being prosecuted for at least four other crimes in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Alabama.
Drake’s arrest brings a sense of relief to the communities affected by his crimes. However, it also underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces when dealing with dangerous criminals with extensive records. The collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies, including the Morrilton Police Department, Arkansas State Police, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, played a crucial role in bringing Drake to justice.
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to provide more details about Drake’s alleged crimes and the circumstances surrounding his arrest. For now, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the victims and supporting their families through this difficult time.
