THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, July 29, 1994                  TAG: 9407290537
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                     LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

ALLEGED AMNESIA VICTIM STILL IN N.C. JAIL HIS ATTORNEY SAYS VA. WON'T TAKE HIM ON THEFT CHARGES.

Michael Ray Haddock, who claims to be recovering from amnesia and is wanted on a larceny charge in Portsmouth, is still in jail here because authorities from Virginia won't pick him up.

``Virginia just isn't interested enough in the cases,'' Haddock's court-appointed lawyer, Gary Underhill of Hertford, said after a brief hearing in Pasquotank County District Court on Thursday.

Another client of Underhill's is also being held for extradition to Virginia and will be released Monday if no one comes for him, Underhill said.

Haddock, who turned up at a Kill Devil Hills fire station in May and told authorities he could remember nothing about himself or where he came from, is ``slowly regaining some memory of his past,'' Underhill said.

But Underhill said Haddock apparently doesn't remember if he was involved in the theft of a camcorder from a Portsmouth woman. Haddock is charged with grand larceny in connection with the theft.

The 35-year-old, heavyset man with graying hair and a thick beard was arrested at Albemarle Hospital after spending several days under observation there following his appearance in Kill Devil Hills.

He has been in jail in lieu of $1,000 bail for about two months. Underhill said Haddock can't raise the $150 required by a bail bondsman.

Judge J.C. Cole on Thursday denied Underhill's request to make the bond unsecured, which would allow Haddock to leave without a deposit.

Haddock, who has a Smithfield address, has been described as a chef who worked in several Hampton Roads restaurants.

Officials in the Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney's office said they are ``unlikely'' to extradite Haddock. If Virginia authorities do not pick him up by his next hearing, scheduled for Aug. 29, he will be set free, Underhill said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Michael Ray Haddock will be freed unless he's picked up.

by CNB