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Martins Creek – A Murphy man was found dead Thursday in a crashed stolen truck off Martins Creek Road.
Roy Edward Lockaby Jr., 30, was found inside a 2002 Chevrolet 1500 pickup that apparently veered off the left side of the road and crashed into a tree before coming to a stop in a field.
It is unclear the exact time of the fatal crash, but law enforcement was dispatched to the scene at about 10:55 a.m. Thursday. Authorities said the vehicle was stolen the previous night and appeared to have crashed during early morning hours.
Cochran-McDaniel Funeral Home is handling Lockaby’s arrangements; send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at cochranmcdaniel.com.
In 2021, while he was an inmate in the Clay County Detention Center, Lockaby escaped from a work crew and was found in Cherokee County after a two-day search.
Lockaby was reportedly attempting to bathe in a river around 4 p.m. one day when a citizen who recognized his description from social media reports called law enforcement authorities.
“He was standing in the river,” then Cherokee County sheriff’s Lt. Tiffany Holland said, adding that Lockaby responded when a deputy called his name. “He waded across the river to where the deputy was standing and was taken into custody.”
Lockaby was part of an inmate crew picking up trash near the Hayesville Post Office when he allegedly stole a Ford truck. The owner of the vehicle told officials he peered out the post office window and saw Lockaby, still in an orange jail uniform, leaving the parking area with his truck.
The truck owner told authorities he left his keys, personal firearm, cash and identification in the vehicle, which is why authorities issued an alert informing citizens that Lockaby could be armed and dangerous.
“People who escape from jail don’t want to be there,” Holland said. “If they have a weapon on them and have already shown that they will do what it takes to get out of jail, you have to assume they will do what it takes not to go back to jail. That’s why we say they could be armed and dangerous.”
Since Lockaby was from Cherokee County, authorities deduced that he would return home, and deputies found the stolen truck in Martins Creek a short time after he escaped the work detail. The gun remained missing.
While searching the area where he left the truck, officials found Lockaby in a house, but he evaded capture by fleeing into the woods. Deputies searched for him until it became too dark, and Lockaby remained on the run for another day and a half.
Lockaby was being held in the Clay County Detention Center on a probation violation stemming from burglary charges in Cherokee County. Felony escape from jail, larceny of a firearm and motor vehicle theft charges were added to his case file.
around 4 p.m. one day when a citizen who recognized his description from social media reports called law enforcement authorities.
“He was standing in the river,” then-Cherokee County sheriff’s Lt. Tiffany Holland said, adding that Lockaby responded when a deputy called his name. “He waded across the river to where the deputy was standing and was taken into custody.”
Lockaby was part of an inmate crew picking up trash near the Hayesville Post Office when he allegedly stole a Ford truck. The owner of the vehicle told officials he peered out the post office window and saw Lockaby, still in an orange jail uniform, leaving the parking area with his truck.
The truck owner told authorities he left his keys, personal firearm, cash and identification in the vehicle, which is why authorities issued an alert informing citizens that Lockaby could be armed and dangerous.
“People who escape from jail don’t want to be there,” Holland said. “If they have a weapon on them and have already shown that they will do what it takes to get out of jail, you have to assume they will do what it takes not to go back to jail.
“That’s why we say they could be armed and dangerous.”
Since Lockaby was from Cherokee County, authorities deduced that he would return home, and deputies found the stolen truck in Martins Creek a short time after he escaped the work detail. The gun, however, remained missing.
While searching the area where he left the truck, officials found Lockaby in a house, but he evaded capture by fleeing into the woods. Deputies searched for him until it became too dark, and Lockaby remained on the run for another day and a half.
Lockaby was being held in the Clay County Detention Center on a probation violation stemming from burglary charges in Cherokee County. Felony escape from jail, larceny of a firearm and motor vehicle theft charges were added to his case file.