UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety has confirmed a Crime Stoppers award will be paid for information that contributed to the arrest of an East Texas man who was on the run for allegedly killing two women in Upshur County.
Alvin Charles McKnight Jr., 41, of Gilmer, was captured Nov. 15 in San Bernardino, California, by the San Bernardino Police Department when he got off a bus that he had taken from Abilene to San Bernardino. He was apprehended around 11:30 p.m. CT (9:30 p.m. PT), according to the Upshur County Sheriff's Office.
He is charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting deaths of Dermetrica Waters, 37, and Mandy Ray, 35, both of Gilmer. Waters and Ray, who were sisters, were found dead Nov. 4 at a house in the 2800 block of U.S. Hwy. 271 South near Bluebird Rd.
McKnight, who officials said is affiliated with the 52 Hoover Crips gang, is still awaiting extradition from California to the Upshur County Jail.
Prior to his capture, DPS had added McKnight to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List. A combined Crime Stoppers reward of $17,500 was offered for information leading to his arrest.
Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb said McKnight, who has a known criminal history, had a child with one of the victims.
Once he got off the bus, body camera footage shows officers in San Bernardino arresting and handcuffing McKnight. Webb said that McKnight did not resist arrest and he's now awaiting extradition in the San Bernardino County Jail from California to Upshur County.
His sister, Laquesha Monique McKnight, 38, of Longview, was arrested for interfering with/hindering his arrest. Officials believe she helped him escape from the Upshur County area the night of the murders.
Authorities say they believe additional people helped McKnight get out of East Texas and they expect additional arrests. Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd said every person involved in helping McKnight will be found and prosecuted.