Georgia man accused of killing his wife arrested in Reno by fugitive taskforce

Reno’s own fugitive taskforce, with the assistance of the Reno Police Department (RPD), arrested Derrick McLauren Williams last night at the Greyhound bus station.  He was arrested, without incident, as he exited an arriving bus and was found to be in possession of a handgun.  Williams is accused of fleeing after beating and strangling his wife to death, in Smyrna, Georgia, on December 5^th.  In addition to the outstanding Georgia homicide warrant, Williams is now under federal investigation for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. “We hope and pray this arrest provides some measure of comfort to the family and friends of the victim as they deal with their loss,” stated District of Nevada U.S. Marshal Christopher Hoye.

The Reno Fugitive Taskforce was asked to assist with the investigation by their Georgia counterparts on December 11^th.  The investigation to apprehend Williams indicated he was traveling to the west coast.  Investigators determined he could be on a Greyhound bus which connected through Salt Lake City earlier in the morning.  Surveillance was initiated and investigators were able to identify Williams as passengers disembarked the bus.  Williams was traveling through Reno to Sacramento and is not believed to have ties to Northern Nevada.  The U.S. Marshals Service will refer the felon in possession of a firearm case to the United States Attorney’s Office.  Williams is currently being held at the Washoe County Jail while awaiting extradition to Georgia.

The Reno Fugitive Taskforce, led by the United States Marshals Service, is a partnership comprised of full-time investigators from the U. S. Marshals Service, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Department of Public Safety (Probation & Parole), and Sparks Police Department.  The team’s mission is to append violent offenders by combining the resources and expertise of local, state, and federal law enforcement in a coordinated effort.  Last year the Reno Taskforce was responsible for the apprehension of more than 250 local, state, and federal fugitives.