Drexel man arrested in thirty-year-old crime

On October 30, 2007, the Bates County Sheriff’s Office took Russell S. Trawick into custody as a fugitive from justice. He escaped from the Florida Department of Corrections on December 25, 1975.

Russell S. Trawick, who was using the stolen identity of John H. Stover, was sentenced to serve 10 years in the Florida Department of Corrections on the January 14, 1975. He was convicted of six counts of check fraud. On December 25, 1975, Russell escaped from the Florida Department of Corrections and remained a fugitive from justice for 32 years.

Authorities determined that Trawick was using the alias of John Stover and was currently living at Rt 1 Box 7, Drexel, Missouri. Trawick is being held at the Bates County Detention Center and is awaiting extradition back to Florida.

A break in the case came when Trawick attempted to obtain a Kansas Drivers License using another alias. Investigators were able to link Trawick with the John Stover alias and locate him at the Drexel address.