Escaped Murder Suspect Steals Semi, Strands Driver In Muskogee

<p>An escaped murder suspect was captured in Texas after the sheriff said he stole a semi-truck, leaving the driver stranded in Muskogee.</p>

Tuesday, December 15th 2015, 7:03 pm

By: Tess Maune

Escaped Murder Suspect Steals Semi, Strands Driver In Muskogee

An escaped murder suspect was captured in Texas after the sheriff said he stole a semi-truck in Muskogee.

Paul Newberry escaped from the Muskogee County jail Sunday night and was found inside the stolen semi Tuesday morning.

The driver whose semi was stolen said he initially thought his truck was towed, but, when he saw shattered glass on the ground, he knew that wasn't the case.

He said all it took was one phone call to find out where his truck was driven.

Monday, when truck driver Robby Bunn got into Muskogee, he knew an accused killer had escaped from the county jail but didn't think much of it. He said he just finished his job and checked into a hotel.

“I heard a little bit about it on the radio yesterday,” Bunn said. “I'm only allowed to drive 11 hours a day. My time was up, so had to stay,” he said.

Tuesday morning, Bunn got up early and was ready to make the drive back home to Gilmer, Texas, only to find his truck was gone and, strangely enough, already in Texas.

“Called dispatcher, asked him where my truck was at and he was wondering why it was going toward Austin,” he said.

His semi has a GPS tracking device, so his company dispatcher was able to pinpoint its exact location - which Bunn said was a truck stop in Jarrell, Texas.

Bunn said when he filed his police report he jokingly made a comment to the officer about the suspected murderer who was on the run.

“I said, 'Well, I hope it wasn't y'all's escaped convict,'” he said.

Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson said, in fact, it was the escaped inmate, Paul Newberry.

“I guess a stolen truck turned helpful,” Bunn said.

Newberry is charged with killing 88-year-old rancher Charley Kirk.

The sheriff said when the missing semi turned up in Texas, he called authorities there. He said Newberry was asleep but when police woke him up he tried to drive away.

The officers surrounded him and he surrendered - all while the truck driver he left stranded back in Muskogee waited for his ride back to Texas.

“I'm ready to go home,” Bunn said.

Muskogee County deputies said Newberry should be back in Muskogee County Tuesday evening.