Nashville’s ‘Top 10 Most Wanted’ fugitives: Multiple homicide, rape suspects still at large

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Amid multiple arrests within the past week, the Metro Nashville Police Department is continuing to search for a number of wanted fugitives who have remained at large.

The police department’s “Top 10 Most Wanted” list is updated every Wednesday on the Criminal Warrants Division’s Facebook page . According to police, those featured on the list are often considered to be some of the “most violent” offenders in the city.

Of the suspects on this week’s list, all but two are wanted for either homicide or charges related to alleged sex crimes. The rest of Nashville’s “Most Wanted” suspects are accused of crimes such as aggravated burglary and facilitating aggravated kidnapping.

Many have reportedly been on the run for nearly a year now, including two rape suspects who were recently added back to the list. But while the search for these suspects continues, the list has aided police in several arrests.

Four of Nashville’s “Most Wanted” fugitives were taken into custody just within the past week. In two of the cases, police had been searching for the suspects for nearly three years. William Tribue, 43, was wanted for vehicular homicide in connection with a deadly June 3, 2021, crash.

Darius Witherspoon, 37, was also being sought by police for a string of alleged shootings that began in October 2021. Another fugitive, 23-year-old Elijah Maitland , was arrested on Monday, July 1 after officials said he ran onto the Belmont University campus while trying to flee from police.

The fourth person taken into custody was 22-year-old Jaylen Bender , who authorities said was involved in a fight outside a Nashville liquor store that left a good Samaritan dead. In total, at least 120 “Most Wanted” suspects have been arrested since the program was launched in October 2022.

Investigators have largely attributed the program’s success to tips they’ve received from the public. Below is a list of the suspects who made the police department’s “Top 10 Most Wanted” list the week of July 3, 2024.

1. Adrian L. Cameron

At number one, Adrian Cameron , 19, is considered this week’s “Top Most Wanted” fugitive, according to the MNPD. This is the eighth week in a row Cameron has appeared on the list. However, police have been looking for him since mid-April.

Investigators said Cameron is one of three suspects in the death of 32-year-old rapper Chris King , who was shot and killed just before 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 20. King and his friends were reportedly hanging out in an alleyway between Hayes Street and Church Street that night.

Eventually, three other men began interacting with the group. King’s friends told police it started out “cordial,” but after some time, the three suspects allegedly tried to rob them. That’s when gunfire ran out, injuring King and his 29-year-old friend.

Both of them were brought to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but King did not survive. Cameron, who was out on bond for the 2021 murder of 50-year-old Josh Evans at the time, was identified as a suspect in the shooting only days later.

Officials believe Cameron cut his ankle monitor shortly after the shooting. Cameron had just turned 17 years old when police said he turned himself in for Evans’ murder . Evans was found shot and wrapped in trash bags in the Cumberland River in Sept. 2021.

Cameron was arrested again for gun charges in Rutherford County less than four months after turning himself in for the 2021 murder. He’s now charged with criminal homicide in connection with King’s death, as well as failure to appear.

However, efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful. Anyone with information on Cameron’s whereabouts is asked to contact the MNPD at 615-862-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 .

2. Lagarrion L. Blacksmith

Lagarrion Blacksmith , 35, has been at the top of Nashville’s “Most Wanted” list for several months as police continue to try to track him down.

He was initially added to the list on Nov. 29, 2023, after investigators said they were able to connect him to a deadly shooting that took place outside a Dickerson Pike bar last year.

Officers found 35-year-old Chancellor Eddins lying on the ground just outside of Trvth Lounge on Feb. 18, 2023. He had been shot and later died at the scene. Another man who had also been hit by the gunfire was able to give officers an account of what happened.

According to police, the injured man told them he and Eddins had gotten into an argument with the suspect inside of the bar. Then, shots were fired as they left the location. At the time, the identity of the alleged shooter was unclear.

Months later, investigators announced Blacksmith had been identified as a suspect. On Nov. 22, 2023, officials said arrest warrants had been issued against Blacksmith for criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and felon in possession of a handgun.

However, efforts to locate him have reportedly been unsuccessful.

3. Raceme Crutcher

Police have been looking for Raceme Crutcher , 22, since July 2023, when he was named as one of two suspects in a deadly Fourth of July shooting .

Officials said the shooting happened at the Fallbrook Apartments on Dellway Villa Road. Etabo Malanda, 16, was reportedly standing on the porch of an apartment when two armed individuals came from around the corner and confronted him.

Malanda allegedly tried to pull out a pistol that was inside his hoodie, but he was shot. Police said he died shortly after he was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

According to investigators, four guns were recovered from the apartment, including one that was reported stolen. Crutcher and 17-year-old Jaylin Brown were reportedly connected to the crime through witness accounts.

Investigators also obtained surveillance footage and additional information from community members that they said pointed to Crutcher and Brown as suspects in the case. Officials believe the motive may have been an ongoing dispute between the suspects and Malanda.

Brown was taken into custody on Aug. 31, 2023, after police said they caught him driving a stolen car. However, Crutcher is still on the run. He was added to the “Most Wanted” list on Nov. 15, 2023. His last location is unknown.

4. Michael A. Yarlett

Michael Yarlett, 29, is wanted on three counts of aided and abetted rape, according to authorities. Court documents indicate he is one of two suspects in the incident, which happened in September 2022.

Yarlett was added to the “Most Wanted” list on Nov. 22, 2023. Officials said his last location is unknown.

5. Ladonte J. Groves

Ladonte Groves, 23, was added back to the list on April 3 after first being featured among Nashville’s “Most Wanted” on Aug. 16, 2023. Police said Groves has since been indicted by a grand jury on multiple charges related to alleged sex crimes.

The charges against him include two counts of rape, two counts of sexual battery and one count of domestic assault. Authorities said Groves was last seen in the East Nashville area. However, efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful.

6. Diego Camaja-Santiago

Police are continuing to search for Diego Camaja-Santiago , 24, after he initially appeared on the “Most Wanted” list nearly a year ago on Aug. 16. He was added back to the list on June 12 after being indicted by a grand jury on several charges related to alleged sex crimes.

According to authorities, Camaja-Santiago has outstanding warrants for two counts of aggravated rape with bodily injury, two counts of statutory rape and probation violation. His last location is unknown.

7. Edgar Monje-Alfaro

Edgar Monje-Alfaro, 23, is wanted by the MNPD after recently being indicted by a grand jury on two counts of statutory rape. Monje-Alfaro was added to the “Most Wanted” list last week. Officials said his last location is unknown.

8. Adrian Abernathy

Adrian Abernathy, 30, is believed to have been behind the wheel of a stolen car in a deadly October 2022 crash on the Rosa L. Parks Boulevard exit ramp from I-65 North .

Abernathy has outstanding warrants for vehicular homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, felon in possession of a weapon, theft of a motor vehicle, theft of a firearm, reckless endangerment and making a false report.

According to police, Abernathy initially said he was a backseat passenger in the stolen Lincoln Navigator SUV. However, over the course of the investigation, detectives determined the seating positions were reversed and Abernathy was the one driving the car.

Authorities said he was traveling over 100 mph shortly before the crash, which killed 29-year-old Todd Bryant of Antioch.

Abernathy has been featured on the “Most Wanted” list several times since early February 2023. He was added back to the list on May 1 after last being featured in November. Officials said he was last seen in Hermitage.

9. Marisah D. White

Marisah White, 21, is wanted on outstanding warrants for robbery, two counts of facilitating aggravated kidnapping and theft of property, according to police.

Court records show she is one of two people involved in the alleged crimes, which took place more than two years ago on April 4, 2022. White was added to the list on June 19. Officials said her last location is unknown.

10. Joshua R. Starkey

Joshua Starkey, 19, is a new addition to this week’s list and among some of the youngest suspects to appear among Nashville’s “Most Wanted”. Police said Starkey is wanted for one count of aggravated robbery with a weapon or object. He was last seen in Hermitage.

Anyone with information on any of the suspects listed is asked to contact the MNPD at 615-862-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 .

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