After faking an accidental drowning and death by slipping overboard while kayaking on the Mississippi River, A Talihina, Oklahoma man who is accused of raping a child in North Carolina was found alive over the weekend, according to St. Charles Parish Sheriff Department.
St. Charles Parish Sheriff Is Suspicious That It Might be Faked Accidental Drowning And Death In Order For Mr. Emde To Escape Charges
As per the report of DNYUZ, more than a month after he was reported missing, Melvin Phillip Emde, 41, was found in Tift County, Georgia, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana.
Seth, Emde’s son, reported his father missing on Aug. 7, 2023, just after midnight, saying that his father drowned while kayaking on the Mississippi River near Matis Road in Hahnville, Louisiana.
The following day, detectives looking into the case of the missing person discovered that Emde was scheduled to appear in court in Brunswick County, North Carolina that day on charges of indecent acts with a child and statutory rape of a child by an adult.
According to St. Charles Parish Sheriff, Greg Champagne, “We immediately became quite suspicious that this may have been a faked accidental drowning and death in order for Mr. Emde to escape charges in Brunswick County, North Carolina.” “To avoid tipping him off, we were unable to openly reveal our suspicions.”
The North Carolina authorities were contacted by Champagne’s detectives, who were informed Emde was wearing an ankle monitor as a condition of bail. Further investigation found that went to a Walmart in Boutte and bought two prepaid cell phones.
The U.S. Marshals Service and North Carolina authorities assisted in tracking the phones, and it was discovered that Emde only used one of the phones for brief periods of time.
When police discovered that Emde stopped using the phones, they expanded their search.
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St. Charles Parish Sheriff Statement On Mr. Emde’s Charges
According to Yahoo News, on September 17, a Georgia State Patrol trooper reportedly spotted a motorcycle traveling in Tift County without a license plate. According to the release, when the Georgia State Patrol trooper attempted to stop the motorcycle’s driver, the driver took off and sped away before crashing.
The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that the motorcycle’s driver attempted to run away on foot before being apprehended under a false name.
The Georgia authorities discovered that the driver was Emde and was informed of his record when the driver’s fingerprints were taken, according to the release.
In the release, St. Charles Parish Sheriff, Greg Champagne, stated, “Now it’s time for Mr. Emde to face the music for his charges in North Carolina.”