Sanford man accused of killing family refuses extradition back to North Carolina
SANFORD, N.C. (WTVD) -- Texas authorities said Monday that a Sanford man charged in the murders of his wife and teen stepdaughter is refusing extradition.
Meanwhile, search warrants filed in the case reveal the man suffered serious burn injuries and was treated in a local hospital following his parking lot arrest.
Billy Jo McLean, 54, was captured in Oldham County, TX Thursday night, ending a four-day manhunt for a man accused of killing his wife, Calandra McLean and his 13-year-old stepdaughter, TaShonna Cameron.
The capture was the result of McLean's 17-year-old stepson, Tobias gaining access to Facebook, where he found out about his family members' deaths. The arrest happened in the parking lot of a Wildorado motel where the pair had stopped for the night.
The two were on a roadtrip and the teen, reported missing by family members, was oblivious to the murders.
On Monday, Yvonne Gromenan, a chief dispatcher with the Oldham County Sheriff's Office, said McLean was refusing extradition and remained in their custody.
The Office and Sanford Police are filing a Governor's warrant, a request that could take up to 90 days to process in order to get McLean back to North Carolina.
On Monday, SPD's Sergeant Vincent Frazer said he expected the timeframe to be closer to three weeks. Frazer said the request had already been forwarded to Gov. Pat McCrory's office, and would subsequently make its way to the Texas Governor's Office for a signature.
McLean would then be transported via van by the N.C. Department of Corrections.
McLean faces a number of federal and state charges, including two counts of first-degree murder.
SEARCH WARRANTS REVEAL MORE DETAILS
Search warrants filed in Oldham County, TX reveal McLean suffered serious burns, and authorities transported him to a local hospital after he was arrested in the Royal Inn motel parking lot.
Once Tobias McLean had the neighboring restaurant owner call 911, deputies headed to Room 40 of the motel. Billy Jo McLean was stopped in the parking lot, where the warrant says his car keys fell out his pocket. The warrant goes on to say McLean did not put up a fight when he was arrested.
On Friday, Texas authorities described the arrest as happening during a "routine traffic stop."
Oldham County detectives searched McLean's motel room and car for firearms, stabbing devices, ammo, magazines, ignitable material and anything else that would tie him to the Sanford murders.
They ended up seizing items like Walmart receipts, clothing, a GPS device, a Bible and "Jesus LP," a laptop, digital camera and atlas map.
Prior to their trip west, Billy Jo and Tobias McLean had been to Billy Jo's native D.C.-area, where phone and financial records show he fled following the murders.
It's unclear whether McLean had any connection to Texas, or if it was his intended final destination.
NO AMBER ALERT
Meanwhile, Tobias McLean headed back to North Carolina over the weekend ahead of his mother and sister's Sunday funeral service.
The City of Sanford paid for his plane ticket.
"He flew back with one of the detectives with the police department," Gromenan said.
Calandra McLean and TaShonna Cameron were laid to rest at the civic center in Sanford on Sunday afternoon.
A family friend in attendance said the civic center erupted in applause and praise as Tobias entered. She said the teen displayed incredible strength and carried his mother's casket at the burial site.
An amber alert was never issued for Tobias McLean, who was described by federal authorities and family members as having mental challenges and traveling without medication.
On Monday, Sanford authorities would not go into what was behind that decision.
"Due to the ongoing investigation and sensitivity of the case I'm not going to comment on the Amber Alert question," said Frazer.
