Executive Summary
- Horace Gyles III was arrested in Williamsburg, Kentucky, on a first-degree murder warrant out of Arizona.
- The suspect allegedly evaded authorities for years using aliases across multiple states including Illinois and Texas.
- Local authorities have added charges for marijuana cultivation and drug paraphernalia possession.
- The operation involved the U.S. Marshals Service, Kentucky State Police, and local sheriff’s deputies.
A fugitive wanted on first-degree murder charges in Arizona was arrested in Whitley County, Kentucky, on Tuesday afternoon following a coordinated law enforcement operation led by the U.S. Marshals Service. Horace Gyles III, 38, was taken into custody without incident at approximately 3 p.m. in the Saxton area of Williamsburg, ending a years-long search that spanned multiple states.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Gyles was wanted by the Glendale Police Department in Arizona in connection with an August 2021 shooting. Authorities allege the incident resulted in the death of a man with whom Gyles had argued regarding a debt. Following the shooting, investigators believe Gyles evaded capture by utilizing various aliases and traveling through Illinois, Nevada, and Texas. His last confirmed sighting prior to the arrest was reported in Kankakee, Illinois, in 2023. A reward of up to $3,000 had been offered for information leading to his capture.
The arrest operation was executed by the U.S. Marshals Service Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force based in London, with support from the Kentucky State Police, Whitley County Sheriff’s Office, Williamsburg Police Department, and other state agencies. Jeremy Honaker, acting U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky, stated that the operation highlighted the effectiveness of force multiplication and inter-agency collaboration in locating violent offenders who attempt to hide within the Commonwealth.
Following the arrest, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the location. Gyles was subsequently booked into the Whitley County Detention Center without bond. In addition to the fugitive warrant, he faces local charges of cultivating marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Detectives from the Glendale Police Department traveled to Kentucky to continue their investigation.
Procedural Next Steps and Legal Standards
This apprehension initiates a complex legal process involving extradition proceedings to return the suspect to Arizona to face the homicide charges. The filing of additional local drug charges in Kentucky may require coordination between jurisdictions regarding the timeline of prosecution. It is important to note that all individuals, including Gyles, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
