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Fugitive wanted for killing two in Newport News turns himself in to police

Posted at 12:00 PM, Feb 01, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-01 18:04:35-05

TAHOKA, Tx. - Amos Arroyo, a man wanted for killing his ex-girlfriend and her father in front of their two young children, has been captured by U.S. Marshals in Texas after being on the run for six months.

Amos Arroyo

On July 30 Amos Arroyo is accused of killing 29-year-old Patricia Joseph and her father in front of their two children.

Since her daughter’s murder Patricia’s mother says it’s been quiet, that is until today when her phone finally rang.

“Thank you, lord, thank you, I am so happy,” Sanders said.

Rosalie Sanders says the family has been living in fear since the day of the double murder, not knowing where arroyo was or if he would show back up.

“I was giving up hope not knowing which way to turn and now all of a sudden he has been caught I am just so ecstatic I am going to throw a party because my daughter is going to get some justice her and her father,”

According to US Marshals Amos Arroyo turned himself in late Wednesday night to the Lynn County sheriff’s office in Tahoka Texas.

Sanders says her 6-year-old grandson Mikey, who watched his father shoot his mother in front of him has had nightmares since that day.

“There son was very, very happy that he had been caught he was kind of stressing over not knowing the what if’s but now that he is caught he is very happy,” Sanders said.

One neighbor told news three he had bought a gun after the shooting because he was afraid arroyo would come back to the neighborhood.

Sanders says after six months of waiting today is the first time she has felt any peace.

“My daughter is going to get justice. My poor baby, it doesn’t bring her back but it gives me satisfaction,” Sanders said.

Arroyo will remain in custody in Texas while he waits to be extradited back to Virginia.

In the meantime, neighbors and family can breathe a sigh of relief.

Police say they believe Arroyo, 32, went to the home of 29-year-old Patricia 'Trish' Joseph on July 30. Joseph and Arroyo have two children together, a 6-year-old and 2-year-old. The children were reported to be home and in the room when police say Arroyo shot Joseph, killing her.

According to reports, Arroyo then turned the gun towards 67-year-old Jesse Barnes, Patricia's dad who was also there, and shot him as well. Barnes died later in the hospital.

U.S Marshals believe Arroyo fled the area immediately after the crime. He was seen on surveillance in a Georgia Walmart the day after the double murder.

Officials told News 3 he bought a few items; a backpack, underwear, socks, a hooded sweatshirt, pants, and tee shirts and then he left the store.

Authorities found Arroyo's car on August 1, abandoned in that Walmart parking lot off Interstate 95 in Pooler, Georgia.

U.S. Marshals Norfolk spokesman, Chris Leuer, said his ID was inside the car. They believed he took on a fake identity. 

An investigation revealed Arroyo has ties all over the country. Leuer said Arroyo was born in the Bronx, grew up outside of Los Angeles and most recently lived in Newport News.

Arroyo also has ties in Florida, Georgia, Delaware, Texas and Peurto Rico. He has traveled to Mexico and speaks Spanish fluently, officials said.

Marshals told News 3 this crime is horrific in many ways, but because it happened with two children present they were determined to capture this wanted man.

News 3 spoke to Trish Joseph's mother, Rosalie Sanders, who said the children are staying with family and the older son is in therapy.

She said he has nightmares about the shooting on a regular basis.

Related: Family mourns after father and daughter killed in Newport News shooting