Nashville’s ‘Most Wanted’: 1 of 2 suspects in 2022 rape in custody

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A months-long manhunt came to an end last week after one of Nashville’s “Most Wanted” fugitives was taken into custody.

Officers with the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) had been searching for 29-year-old Michael Yarlett since Nov. 2023, when he was indicted on three counts of aided and abetted aggravated rape.

Court documents showed that Yarlett is one of two suspects wanted in connection with the alleged assault, which took place on Sept. 5, 2022. According to police, Yarlett and another man used “force or coercion” to rape the victim, who was 17 years old at the time.

Yarlett was added to MNPD’s “Top 10 Most Wanted” list shortly after a grand jury indicted him on all three counts. However, he remained at large for nearly eight months before his arrest on Wednesday, July 17.

He was booked into jail on his outstanding warrants and one additional charge for felony probation violation. Court records show Yarlett has previously been convicted of a misdemeanor drug offense and facilitation of a robbery.

As of Monday, July 22, Yarlett was still behind bars with a $300,000 bond. He is now among at least 123 “Most Wanted” fugitives who have been taken into custody since the program was launched in October 2022.

Investigators have largely attributed the program’s success to tips they’ve received from the public. To see the most recent list of “Most Wanted” fugitives out of Nashville, click here .

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