Suspect accused of killing Tahlequah woman in chase captured in Missouri

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (KTUL) — On Friday, Aram Barack Catron, the first-degree murder suspect accused of killing a Tahlequah woman in a police chase, has been captured and arrested by US Marshals in Missouri.

Catron was wanted for murder in the Tahlequah crash that killed Malinda Phillips.

Police say the suspect, 36-year-old Catron was attempting to get away after allegedly shoplifting at Walmart. Catron ran a stop sign on Choctaw and West Avenue just before his pickup crashed into Phillips' Buick Encore. He was taken to the hospital after the crash but checked himself out before he could be arrested.

Police did not have an officer standing by in the hospital because they were waiting for more serious charges from the District Attorney.

"To actually have an officer sitting with him, he's basically under arrest," Tahlequah Police Chief Nate King said in an interview Wednesday.

Despite his escape, Catron was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Phillips. Police Chief King said the impact was so strong that the cab of Catron's truck detached and the motor of Phillips' car was thrown 20 feet.

Catron was on the run after checking himself out of the hospital and a manhunt for the suspect began immediately.