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TIFT COUNTY, GEORGIA: Melvin Phillip Emde, a 41-year-old kayaker reported as missing, was arrested in Georgia on allegations of fabricating his death mere hours before he was scheduled to appear in court in another state, facing child rape charges.
He was apprehended by authorities following a high-speed pursuit in Tift County, located in south central Georgia, on Sunday, September 17. The arrest comes after a weeks-long, multi-jurisdictional investigation conducted by state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies spanning four states, as per USA Today.
How did Melvin Phillip Emde fake his death?
The saga began on August 7 when Melvin Phillip Emde was reported missing by his son. According to initial reports, he had allegedly gone overboard and drowned while kayaking around midnight in the Mississippi River in Hahnville, Louisiana, a town 30 miles west of New Orleans.
At the time of the report, both Emde and his son, hailing from Talihina, Oklahoma, were reportedly in Louisiana for work related to Hurricane Ida relief efforts. Sheriff Greg Champagne of St Charles Parish, Louisiana, stated, "They (the father and son) traveled throughout the southeast country doing storm-related work."
However, the plot thickened when, on August 8, a mere day after Emde's son reported him missing, detectives uncovered that the father was scheduled to appear in a North Carolina court on charges of indecent liberties with a child and statutory rape of a child.
"We treated this as a missing persons case, but the day after it happened we were pretty sure it was a hoax," remarked Sheriff Champagne, although he added that detectives could not publicly reveal their suspicions to avoid tipping Emde off.
"Through investigation, detectives learned earlier on the day of the reported drowning, Emde visited Walmart in Boutte and purchased two prepaid phones," read a statement released about him, as per USA Today.
Working in collaboration with North Carolina authorities and with the assistance of the United States Marshals, investigators tracked the phones.
One of the phones was used discreetly and only turned on for short periods.
Initially, the search was concentrated in Emde's home state of Oklahoma until authorities learned that the phones were no longer active.
How was Melvin Phillip Emde eventually caught?
In the early hours of Sunday, September 17, a Georgia State Highway Patrol trooper attempted to stop a motorcycle, reportedly lacking a license plate. The motorcyclist, later identified as Melvin Phillip, fled at a high speed before eventually crashing.
He then attempted to flee on foot but was arrested by law enforcement.
What are the criminal charges against Melvin Phillip Emde?
Sheriff Greg Champagne stated that Melvin Phillip Emde is likely to be extradited to North Carolina and will subsequently return to Louisiana to face pending felony charges, including filing a false report.
He said, "Now it's time for Mr. Emde to face the music for his charges in North Carolina," in a statement, as per ABC. Moreover, Sheriff Champagne suggested that charges might also be filed against Emde's son, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Details regarding Emde's child rape charges were not disclosed by officials, and it remains uncertain if he has retained legal representation.
