In the quiet community of Johnsonville, just outside of Evergreen, Alabama, a tragic event unfolded on the night of June 16, 2023, that claimed the lives of 10-year-old Joseph 'JoeJoe' Rankin and 31-year-old Jatonio Williams. The male victims were shot in what authorities believe was a home invasion on Boone Court. When Conecuh County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene around 11:28 p.m., they discovered Williams deceased from gunshot wounds.
Young Joseph was found critically injured and was rushed to Evergreen Medical Center, but he tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly identified a primary suspect, Ladarrius Rhaheem Fantroy, a resident of Repton, Alabama. Warrants were issued for Fantroy, charging him with two counts of capital murder and one count of kidnapping. The kidnapping charge stemmed from allegations that Fantroy and an associate abducted the 8-year-old daughter of one of the victims from the scene, stole the victims' vehicle with the child inside, and later released her on the side of a highway. In connection with the abduction, a 27-year-old woman named Vera Moorer was arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping for allegedly taking the 8-year-old from the scene and leaving her at a gas station.
For over a year, Ladarrius Fantroy remained a fugitive, managing to evade capture. His elusiveness led to his placement on the U.S. Marshals Service's 15 Most Wanted list in March 2024, with a significant reward offered for information leading to his arrest. Authorities believed that a network of family and associates were assisting him in avoiding law enforcement. The extensive manhunt finally came to an end in late June 2024, when Fantroy was apprehended in Mobile, Alabama. In addition to the charges in Conecuh County, Fantroy also faced charges of kidnapping and burglary from a separate incident in Monroe County from July 2023.
