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Victim’s mother speaks after Richmond murder suspect captured in Virgin Islands

Posted at 3:22 PM, Jul 24, 2015
and last updated 2015-07-24 23:40:26-04

RICHMOND, Va. – The U.S. Marshals Service said the Richmond hotel murder suspect added to the agency's "15 Most Wanted Fugitives” list on July 2 was captured Thursday standing near a tent in a remote part of the British Virgin Islands.

Richmond police charged 19-year-old J’Wa Charlery with murder after they found the body of Eboniece Escobar at the Clarion Hotel on Boulevard in November of 2014.

CBS 6 reporter Chelsea Rarrick spoke with Escobar's mother Tonya Escobar about the arrest Friday.

"I thought it was going to take much longer than that and I just prayed that it wouldn’t go unsolved. I’m elated he’s finally found because you can't move on without him," Escobar said.

While she's happy about the arrest, Tonya said it still doesn't bring her daughter back. "It’s going to take me a minute to get back into the family mood because my family is so torn apart.”

Officials said Charlery was arrested by the Royal Virgin Island Police Force (RVIPF) around 6 a.m. Thursday in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands

"The fugitive investigation gained momentum when the U.S. Marshals and the Richmond Police Department developed information that Charlery fled to the British Virgin Islands," Deputy United States Marshal Brian R. Stalnaker wrote in a news release. "With credible investigative leads from law enforcement partners, RVIPF converged on a remote location on the island of Tortola, and found Charley standing outside of a tent, where they took him into custody without incident."

Officials said a large amount of cash and two loaded handguns were discovered in Charley’s hideout.

Charlery is being held by authorities in Tortola.

RELATED: Mother of murdered Boulevard hotel victim begs third suspect to surrender

While Charlery remained on the loose, U.S. Marshals Service Director Stacia Hylton warned that his “potential for continued violence put the public at great risk every day.”

"[Charlery] is a member of a criminal organization allegedly responsible for major narcotics trafficking and acts of violence in the Virgin Islands. He is well-known in the U.S. Virgin Islands by the nickname 'Balla,'” officials said.

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