Published: March 14, 2008 02:20 pm      

Philpot arrested in Houston

Had fled scene of fatal Lake City crash

The search for Michael Philpot, who fled the scene of an accident that fatally injured Pamela Pafford and critically injured her son, ended in a motel in Houston, Tex. on March 4, according to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office (CCSO). Pafford is a former resident of Jasper.

Florida Highway Patrol officers initially thought the accident on US 41 in the Winfield area of north of Lake City was a random head-on collision. Then it was determined that Philpot had been released from the Florida Department of Corrections in May 2007 after serving a prison sentence for false imprisonment and aggravated assault on Pafford, according to the CCSO.

A search of the area with canine teams led law enforcement officers to an area where Philpot may have been picked up by a vehicle. Philpot was the subject of a nationwide manhunt until his capture by the Houston Fugitive Apprehension Unit.

"Through investigation and the sheer tenacity of my detectives, we were able to determine a cell phone purchased in Lake City was in the area of Houston and was calling a Houston-based telephone number," said Sheriff Bill Gootee. "After more investigation and old-fashioned police work, we identified an address we believed he was at or near."

Philpot was leaving the room when the marked units arrived and he tried to elude officers, but was quickly captured, according to Gootee. He was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail on a warrant for leaving the scene of a crash with death, leaving the scene of a crash with serious injury and violation of probation.

Philpot has waived his extradition process and will be transported back to Florida via a private prisoner transport company. At this time, it is not known when he will return, according to CCSO.

"My detectives have spent endless hours since the crash following up on leads, interviewing family and friends of Mr. Philpot and tracking him to many locations," said Gootee. "Now that he is in custody, Mr. Philpot will answer to the crimes he is accused of committing."