A weeks-long hunt for an Indiana homicide suspect ended in the central Florida woods, where authorities say a 75-year-old man hiding near Ocala was quietly taken into custody after a coordinated multi-agency operation. Investigators identified the fugitive as Robert Lee Sage, wanted in connection with a killing in Elkhart, Indiana. He is now booked into the Marion County Jail while officials in Indiana work on bringing him back to face a murder charge. Investigators credit forensic leads with tightening the net around Sage’s swampy hideout.
Arrest and booking
Deputies located Sage in Marion County and collected a DNA sample that was sent to investigators in Indiana, as reported by WCJB. According to that report, the U.S. Marshals Service joined local deputies on the operation, and Sage was arrested on Monday without any further incident.
Forensics led the way
Marion County Detective Fredette worked closely with the Elkhart Police Department, tracking Sage’s movements while investigators assembled the forensic trail. Authorities say securing the DNA sample was the turning point that allowed Indiana investigators to obtain a formal murder warrant, according to the Tampa Free Press. That evidence set off a targeted operation that ended with Sage in handcuffs.
Joint operation and local custody
Federal marshals routinely back up regional fugitive teams, and officials say marshals again stepped in to support Marion County deputies on this case. Per the U.S. Marshals Service, Sage was taken into local custody following the coordinated move. After his arrest, he was booked into the Marion County Jail, the county’s detention facility, where he will remain while Indiana authorities finalize extradition plans.
Elkhart police secured a formal arrest warrant for murder, and Indiana prosecutors will now steer both the charging decisions and the extradition process, as reported by the Tampa Free Press. Officials have not yet released the victim’s identity or details about the alleged crime, citing the ongoing investigation and upcoming court proceedings…