After years on the run and two dramatic escapes from custody, Jamaican national Orville Andrew Pernell has been recaptured—this time in the United States.
Pernell, now 32, was apprehended on April 4th in Savannah, Georgia, during a coordinated operation involving U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). His arrest brings to an end an international manhunt that spanned nearly four years and multiple countries.
Pernell’s name first made headlines in October 2020, when he escaped police custody in Saint Lucia. At the time, he was being held at the Babonneau Police Station, charged in connection with the murder of 28-year-old Cleus Alfred, who was gunned down on August 25, 2020, in Trouya, Gros Islet.
After fleeing Saint Lucia, Pernell was reportedly captured in Jamaica in 2021—only to escape custody once again.
U.S. authorities revealed that Pernell crossed into the United States illegally near San Ysidro, California, on December 7, 2022, using false identification. Although he was intercepted by U.S. Border Patrol and issued a notice to appear in court, he remained under the radar until another arrest in July 2023.
That arrest came in Clayton County, Georgia, where Pernell was detained for possessing a stolen motorcycle and attempting to evade police. Authorities also discovered a stolen 9mm handgun in his possession—adding to a growing list of charges.
His final capture occurred in the Savannah area, where agents from multiple federal agencies tracked him down and took him into custody without incident.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta said:
“After a long run from justice, he’s finally back in custody and facing the consequences,” alongside a photograph of Pernell.
U.S. officials have confirmed that Pernell is now facing federal charges for being an undocumented immigrant in possession of a firearm. He is also expected to be extradited to Saint Lucia, where he will stand trial for murder.
