Published: May 27, 2008 09:05 pm         

Second Florida fugitive surrenders without incident

A fugitive from justice wanted along with his mother in connection with the slaying of a Florida man surrendered to authorities Sunday afternoon without incident, ending one of the largest manhunts in the county's history, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department.

Larry Craig Whitworth, 29, Lake City, FL, surrendered to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Bradley Nealon and shortly before 1 p.m. was turned over to Deputy Jeff Turner of the CCSD for transport to the Justice Center. The exchange took place in the parking lot of Liberty Market in Crab Orchard, according to the report.

The arrest ended a four-day search for Whitworth and his mom, Mary Boswell, 47, also of Lake City. Florida detectives were in Crossville late Thursday night to question the mother and in hopes of being able to take both suspects back to Florida to formally charge the pair.

Both had reportedly been living with 59-year-old Jerry Gifford, whom family members last had contact with on May 13. His wallet was found on the side of a Hamilton County, Florida road and turned into authorities around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Deputies went to Gifford's home but were unable to find anyone, including Gifford's 2002 white Chevrolet pickup. Later that day a neighbor reported spotting the victim's body floating in a pond on his property.

An autopsy has been completed and while Florida authorities are saying his death was a homicide, they are not saying how he died. Further investigation led to Florida authorities contacting the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department Thursday after learning the two may have fled to East Tennessee.

When deputies met the pair on the road traveling in the dead man's 2002 Chevrolet pickup truck, the two fled for several miles before abandoning the vehicle on a rugged remote road under construction by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency on Mt. Roosevelt Mountain.

A massive ground and air search followed by dozens of East Tennessee police and despite sightings at the trailer on Mt. Vernal Rd. where the pair had been staying, and at the Westel BP, Whitworth was able to elude officers.

Once the manhunt was scaled down, deputies continued to saturate the area in patrol and unmarked vehicles which led up to the arrest Sunday.