Sumter County homicide suspect arrested after crashing truck into Lk. Spivey in Inverness
Ford truck being recovered from Lk. Spivey for forensic examination.
According to Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast, his agency was informed by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, that around 6:30 am Saturday morning, the suspect, Mr. Thomas, had forcibly entered a Sumter County residence in the Bevilles Corner area and killed a 14 year-old boy, then abducted the boy's mother, who was identified as Victoria Harris. Mr. Thomas then fled the area in a Ford pickup truck, with Ms. Harris as hostage.
Citrus County officials learned that Mr. Thomas was headed to Citrus County, and the CCSO assisted the SCSO in puruit of Thomas. Thomas led deputies in a brief pursuit, that ended with Mr. Thomas crashing the Ford pickup truck into Lake Spivey, located off Lakeview Drive in Inverness, FL.
Ms. Harris, the mother of the murdered juvenile, was reported to be in safe condition, with officials from Sumter County, and suspect Thomas was taken into custody.
The pickup truck was pulled from Lake Spivey and towed away for forensic inspection.