Leroy Headley, the suspected killer of Anako Lumumba, his longtime girlfriend, may be in Philadelphia, according to the US Marshal service, which has been hunting for him for the past year.
The Marshals also increased the reward for information leading to his arrest to $10,000, just days before the one year anniversary of Lumumba’s murder at the couple’s home in South Burlington on May 3, 2018.
Lumumba, 33, and Headley, 37, had two children together.
Michael Barron, a deputy U.S. Marshal based in Burlington, said investigations over the past year have turned up evidence that Headley travelled to Philadelphia at some point since the murder, but did not have further details.
“I just know that he had some ties in Philly in the past 11 months or so,” Barron said.
Tanya Little, a spokesperson for Philadelphia Police Department, said the city received a message from the US Marshals this week.
“He travelled here sometime last year,” she said. “They have reason to believe they may be in our area so they sent us information to keep a lookout for him. Nothing specific.”
The car that Headley used to flee Vermont found in Albany, New York, leading authorities to also extend the search to Canada. Barron said Albany was still Headley’s last confirmed location.
“He’s got ties it seems like all over the country,” Barron said. “The last place he was definitely known to be was Albany.”
Barron declined to give specific information about the ongoing investigation, but said: “We’ve been working on this for the last 12 months. Every day numerous resources have been explored. It’s a high priority for us; something that hasn’t sat idle.”
Authorities believe that Headley has changed his appearance and his name since fleeing Vermont. He is from Jamaica.
Both ABC6 and CBS3, local television stations in Philadelphia, published stories Tuesday morning saying that authorities believe the suspect may be in the city.
Sgt. Chris Bataille, who is the point person on the search for South Burlington police, could not be reached Tuesday morning.
WCAX in Vermont reported yesterday that the reward for information that leads to Headley’s arrest has been increased to $10,000.
Lumumba had filed detailed reports with police on two occasions during the two years before she was killed describing mounting fear about Headley’s threats and violence — and her worries that he would use one of his guns to kill her.
Police attempted to seize Headley’s guns in December, 2017, but then Lumumba missed a court date for a permanent relief-from-abuse order against Headley and the efforts ceased.
Headley is also wanted in a case in which he is suspected of providing alcohol to teenage girls in a hotel room and performing sex acts with them. He was released on those charges ahead of a trial.
