In a dramatic conclusion to a three-day manhunt that mobilized hundreds of law enforcement officers across North Carolina, convicted murderer Ramone Alston was captured early Friday at a hotel in Kannapolis, a city just north of Charlotte. The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDOAC) confirmed that Alston, who had been on the run since escaping custody on Tuesday, was apprehended without incident.
Alston, 30, had been serving a life sentence for the 2015 murder of 1-year-old Maleah Williams, a crime that shook the community of Chapel Hill on Christmas Day. The toddler was fatally shot while playing outside her apartment, caught in the crossfire as someone opened fire from a passing vehicle. Alston, although present at the scene, maintained that he did not pull the trigger. Nonetheless, he was convicted of first-degree murder in 2018 and was serving his sentence at Bertie Correctional Institution in Windsor, North Carolina, before his daring escape.
The escape occurred around 7 a.m. on Tuesday as Alston was being transported to UNC Hospitals Hillsborough Campus for a medical appointment. Despite being in leg restraints and handcuffs, Alston managed to free himself and fled into the nearby woods. His sudden disappearance triggered an extensive manhunt involving over 300 officers from 19 different agencies, who combed through 1,335 acres of land surrounding the hospital.
Authorities had been on high alert since Alston's escape, with a growing sense of urgency as he remained at large. The reward for information leading to his capture had reached $50,000, with contributions from Governor Roy Cooper, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the FBI.
Alston's capture was the result of coordinated efforts between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI's Charlotte SWAT team, Kannapolis Police, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers. According to Keith Acree, a spokesperson for the NCDOAC, Alston was found hiding in a hotel room on Cloverleaf Parkway. "He was taken into custody without injuries to anyone," Acree said in a statement.
In a development that could lead to further legal consequences, a woman identified as Jacobia Crisp was arrested in Alamance County and charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive, a felony under North Carolina law. Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover more details about Alston's movements during his time on the run and to determine whether others were involved in aiding his escape.
Todd Ishee, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, expressed his relief at the safe apprehension of Alston. "I am grateful to our DAC staff and thankful for the support and effort from hundreds of local, state, and federal public safety officers who helped in the search and investigation that returned Alston safely to custody," Ishee said. He emphasized the collaborative nature of the operation, noting that it was a "tremendous effort" by all involved.
Alston now faces additional charges for his escape and will be transferred to a high-security unit within the state prison system. He will continue serving his life sentence while awaiting further court appearances related to his escape.
The case has drawn widespread attention, not only because of the heinous nature of the crime for which Alston was convicted but also due to the significant resources deployed to recapture him. The original murder case was particularly tragic, with the young victim, Maleah Williams, losing her life in a senseless act of violence. Her mother, who was holding Maleah at the time of the shooting, recounted the horror of realizing that her daughter had been struck by a bullet as she tried to flee the scene.
Alston's recent attempt to appeal his life sentence, citing what he claimed were procedural errors and misleading evidence, was denied by a judge in May 2023. The motion for appropriate relief, a 20-page document outlining his grievances with the trial process, was rejected on the grounds that Alston had already received a fair and thorough hearing.
