U.S. Marshals Task Force Nabs Fugitive Wanted in Kidnapping of 13 Year-Old Girl from Arkansas

Milton, FL – The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force captured a wanted man who is being sought by law enforcement Arkansas for kidnapping a teenage girl who is believed to be his niece. Late Tuesday evening the U.S. Marshals in El Dorado, Arkansas contacted the Marshals Task Force in Pensacola requesting their help in locating fugitive Phillip Thomas Nussey who was believed to have abducted his niece and thought to be heading toward Milton where he has ties. The Marshals in Arkansas advised the Pensacola Marshals to be on the lookout for a 1998 White Ford Crown Victoria, the car reportedly that had been used to abduct the young girl. The Task for was provided with some information on some addresses but were unable to find the car in this area. Task Force Officers then eventually figured out Nussey had a former girlfriend living in Milton; but were still unable to locate Nussey.

Early this evening, a Task Force Officer from Escambia County Sheriff’s Office checked the home of the ex-girlfriend on the 6500 Block of Dogwood Drive and found the Crown Victoria parked outside. Around 11:00 pm, Marshals and Task Force Officers from Santa Rosa, Escambia and Walton County along with a K9 unit from Santa Rosa County converged on the home but no one inside would open the door.

Officers then broke the door open and found Nussey hiding in the bathroom. The 38 year-old Nussey was then arrested without any further problems. The missing girl, along with his ex-girlfriend was found inside unharmed. Nussey faces charges in Arkansas for the abduction, and is allegedly a suspect in sexual molestation cases in both Arkansas and Virginia. Thomas may also face charges in Santa Rosa County for kidnapping, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest. He will remain in the Santa Rosa County Jail until he is extradited back to Arkansas. The car was impounded and may be treated as a crime scene.

Last year, U.S. Marshals led task forces arrested more than 123,000 fugitives of which over 86,000 of them were state and local fugitives, nearly 4,000 were homicide suspects and more than 5,000 of them were violent gang members. As well, among that number of arrests more than 12,000 of them were sex offenders.