Vermont murder suspect Leroy Headley captured in Jamaica

Leroy Headley, the man Vermont police have been looking for since the 2018 murder of his girlfriend, Anako "Annette" Lumumba, has been captured.

"Excellent news" was South Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke's reaction to the arrest of murder suspect Leroy Headley, who has been on the run since May 2018, when police say he killed Annette Lumumba, the mother of his two children.

The U.S. Marshals say they recently tracked Headley to Negril, Jamaica. Authorities there spotted Headley driving Sunday evening. They stopped him and took him into custody without incident.

"The Marshals service -- their relentless work is more than commendable," Chief Burke said.

U.S. Marshals officials were not available for an interview, but they say it is not clear how Headley got to Jamaica, what he was doing there or if anyone has been helping him along the way.

"We look forward to what we expect will be an extradition process and potential trial in this case," Burke said.

Police say on May 3, 2018, Headley admitted in a call to a family member that he had just killed Lumumba. He's been on the run ever since, filling her family with dread.

"They were living their days wondering where he was and what that meant for them," Burke said.

Two weeks after the murder, Headley's car was found in Albany, New York. Police think from there he went to Philadelphia, but they were also investigating his ties to Jamaica, Las Vegas, Massachusetts and Florida.

"There is a sense of relief for the family, but this does not bring their loved one back. It's just a harsh reminder of their loss and it should be a harsh reminder for the community of the failed outcomes that we see in domestic violence cases," Burke said.

Since Lumumba's slaying, family members in Vermont have been caring for her children.

Headley is due in court today in Kingston, Jamaica, to face extradition proceedings to return to the United States. He does not face any charges in Jamaica.

Marshals tell WCAX News they believe the Headley case was the first from Vermont ever elevated to the service's "15 Most Wanted List." Headley was recently featured on the national crime show "In Pursuit with John Walsh."