THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 7, 1997 TAG: 9702070576
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 25 lines
A rape suspect who escaped from a North Carolina mental hospital was arrested in Sussex County, Va., Wednesday night, Pasquotank County Sheriff Randy Cartwright said.
Ricky McPherson, 27, of Elizabeth City was arrested at a bar. Cartwright said he will be brought back to Pasquotank County.
Cartwright said he had notified police in Sussex County that McPherson had relatives there. Police had spotted McPherson at the bar at least two times in the last month, said Cartwright.
McPherson was arrested in Elizabeth City Nov. 19 for allegedly raping and robbing a 72-year-old woman in her Greenleaf Street home. The woman knew McPherson.
After attempting suicide in jail, McPherson was sent to Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro, a mental health facility. He escaped Jan. 8 when he forced his way out of the admissions door as another patient entered.
KEYWORDS: RAPE SEX CRIME