Escaped Carter County inmate Billy Fletcher captured in South Carolina

GREENVILLE, S.C. (WJHL) — Escaped Carter County inmate Billy Fletcher has been captured in South Carolina.

Fletcher, who walked away from work detail at the Carter County Detention Center on June 20, was arrested in Greenville, South Carolina, according to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said state law enforcement received a tip regarding Fletcher’s location and deputies found and arrested him without incident at 8:38 p.m. Thursday.

Fletcher will be held on a charge of fugitive from justice until he is extradited to Carter County, according to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.

Earlier this week, the Carter County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that it was investigating Fletcher’s escape and the disappearance of 61-year-old Victor Birchfield as related incidents. Sheriff Mike Fraley believes Fletcher came into contact with Birchfield at some point after his escape.

Birchfield’s vehicle was recovered in South Carolina after it was spotted in the Clemson area . He remains missing.

Fletcher was spotted leaving a Walmart in Greenville County on June 24, according to South Carolina authorities.

Prior to his escape, Fletcher was serving a three-year sentence in the Carter County Detention Center for violation of probation.

Court records show that Fletcher had previously been charged with domestic assault, attempted kidnapping, and attempted burglary in 2017. He was convicted of attempted burglary and sentenced to three years, but records show that sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation in April 2019.

Fletcher allegedly violated his probation by absconding and was booked into the Carter County Detention Center for violation of probation in August 2023.

The Carter County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation into Fletcher’s escape and Birchfield’s disappearance remains ongoing.

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