THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503110311
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Law officers are pursuing ``three strong leads'' in their continuing search for an armed ex-convict accused of murder.
Pasquotank County Sheriff Randy Cartwright said state police and local police in several states were still looking Friday night for Richard S. ``Ricky'' Hogarth, 30, of Pasquotank County.
Hogarth is is charged with killing his girlfriend and wounding her step-grandfather at an Elizabeth City-area convenience store Wednesday night.
``When he's been in trouble before, he's been a good runner,'' Cartwright said between witness interviews at his office Friday. ``And he runs until he's caught.''
Hogarth, with an extensive record of drug, assault and larceny arrests, has eluded authorities in the past. Court records show he briefly escaped from jail in 1991. More recently, Hogarth, whose parole had expired, recently helped a fugitive flee illegally to Texas, Cartwright said.
Among the tips officials are checking is Hogarth's apparent contact with an ex-wife living in Tupelo, Miss., Cartwright said. Hogarth has another ex-wife living in New Jersey. Other states with possible connections include Virginia, Florida and Texas, Cartwright said.
Officials did not think Hogarth was in North Carolina, Cartwright said.
A prison department identification card prepared in 1991 describes Hogarth as white, 5-feet-9-inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
The police are also seeking a stolen 1989 Acura Legend, described as dark gray with two doors and Virginia license SPR-498, Cartwright said.
Hogarth is accused of shooting to death 24-year-old Tracy Dawn Crafton after she got into the van of her Virginia Beach grandparents, who had traveled to the Elizabeth City area to pick up Crafton.
Wounded in the shooting was Crafton's step-grandfather, Ron Revering, who was reportedly recovering in a Virginia hospital.
Crafton, whose address was listed in Shiloh and who had several family members in the area, had apparently been living with Hogarth for about three weeks on West Main Street Extended just outside Elizabeth City.
Crafton had told her relatives that Hogarth was abusing her. Her grandmother, who witnessed the shootings at the Zoom-In gas station and convenience store's parking lot Wednesday, said Crafton's face was bruised when they met her after 10 p.m.
Camden County Sheriff Joe Jones said Crafton had called him on Monday to say that her boyfriend had beaten her. Because she was out of his jurisdiction, Jones said, he referred her to Pasquotank County officials. Cartwright said he had had no contact with Crafton.
Jones said Crafton had talked to him about domestic problems in an earlier relationship as well.
Funeral services for Crafton were scheduled for 2 p.m. today in Twiford's Memorial Chapel, 405 E. Church St., Elizabeth City. Among Crafton's survivors are her parents, James Donald Crafton of Richmond and Florence ``Gail'' Locklear Forbes of Shiloh; and two sons, Jacob Wayne Crafton and Tyler Crafton Forbes. MEMO: This story also appeared in the North Carolina edition, on page B1.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
This photograph of Richard S. ``Ricky'' Hogarth was taken in 1985. A
prison department identification card prepared in 1991 describes him
as white, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds with black
hair and brown eyes. The police are also seeking a stolen 1989 Acura
Legend, described as dark gray with two doors and Virginia license
SPR-498. Hogarth has an extensive police record. Court records show
he briefly escaped from jail in 1991.
KEYWORDS: MURDER by CNB